California Institute of Technology, Physics, Mathematics & Astronomy Division

Scholarship ID:

Caltech-PMA-TDAPD [#30564]

Scholarship Title:

Postdoctoral Scholarship in Time Domain Astronomy

Scholarship Type:

Postdoctoral

Location:

Pasadena, California 91125, United States of America

Subject Area:

Astronomy

Compensation:

$72,723 - $75,268

Appl Deadline:

2025/12/10 23:59:59 finished (2025/09/15, finished 2026/06/13)

Description:

*** this scholarship has been closed and new applications are no longer accepted. ***

The Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy at Caltech will offer one or more postdoctoral scholarships in time domain astronomy. Active research projects include:

Transient and stellar astronomy studies with the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF; Caltech is the PI institution) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey-V (Caltech is a member of SDSS-V)

Infrared transient searches with the ongoing PGIR and WINTER surveys at Palomar Observatory; the upcoming Cryoscope pathfinder in Antarctica; the upcoming Roman Space Telescope (the RAPID PIT and RISE WFS teams are led by Caltech)

Stellar astrometry and spectroscopy with Gaia and Euclid

Machine learning and astroinformatics, including work connected with jointly querying ZTF and Rubin data streams and developing software infrastructure enabling multi-messenger discovery

Systematic studies of AGN variability focusing on extreme transient phenomena in accretion disks and supermassive black hole binaries

Data mining of extensive light curve archives, including the ZTF Variability Archive (ZVAR), for populations studies of variable phenomena with two decades of data

Associated faculty are Professors Mansi Kasliwal, Matthew Graham, Kareem El-Badry, and Shri Kulkarni. Technical and observational investigations are underway in several areas of optical and infrared time domain astronomy including supernovae, fast radio bursts, gravitational wave counterparts, magnetars, quasars/AGN, exoplanets and compact Galactic binary systems. Postdoctoral scholars will also have the opportunity to interact frequently with Caltech, KITP, and Berkeley faculty through the ZTF Theory Network. Postdocs interested in theory should apply for the Burke Fellowship. Where relevant, this position may be combined with opportunities at other institutional members of the ZTF partnership and SDSS-V partnership.

We encourage applications from candidates interested in developing and/or applying state-of-the-art data science techniques to time domain astronomy problems and large data sets.

The postdoctoral scholarship position will start September 1, 2026 or earlier. The duration of the scholarships is up to three years: an initial two-year appointment with a third year contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds. Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to propose for time on all of Caltech's astronomical facilities, including those at Palomar Observatory and at the W. M. Keck Observatory.

Electronic copies of the curriculum vitae, publications list (indicate articles which appeared in refereed journals), and statement of research interests are required. The applicant is requested to ensure that at least three letters of recommendation are provided.

Salary range: $72,723 - $75,268

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, experience, qualifications, skills, education, specialty, training, and internal equity.

Benefits

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Learn more about our benefits and who is eligible.

EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” Poster | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Disability Accommodations

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.

In order to evaluate your candidacy, we may ask you to provide us with certain personal information, including your identification data (e.g. name, date of birth, driver’s license number, social security number, passport number, and contact details), education information, financial information (for payroll and benefits), and professional and employment history. If you have any questions about our privacy policy or would like to learn more, please visit https://www.caltech.edu/privacy-notice.

Application Materials Required:

Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:

Curriculum Vitae
Research statement
Publication list
Three reference letters (to be submitted online by the reference writers on this site )

Further Info:

https://www.pma.caltech.edu/about/job-opportunities

1200 E. California Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91125