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The Illinois Relativity Group at the Department of Physics of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a 2 to 3-year postdoctoral research fellow position (starting in 2020) with a focus on extreme gravity. 

The fellowship is intended for a person with a set of wide-ranging interests in extreme gravity and expertise in general relativity and gravitation, with an emphasis in analytical relativity (post-Newtonian, black hole perturbation theory, self-force), data analysis (Bayesian theory, parameter estimation, model selection) and theoretical physics (beyond-Einstein phenomenological models, high energy physics, cosmological modified gravity). In particular, the applicant must demonstrate research experience and creativity, breadth and depth of knowledge in extreme gravity, high productivity and high quality publications, and mastery of written and oral communication. A Ph.D in physics, astronomy, or a related discipline is required by the start of employment.

The successful applicant will join Professor Nico Yunes in the study of eXtreme gravity topics related, such as neutron stars, black holes, compact binary systems, gravitational waves, and experimental tests of General Relativity. These topics can range from theoretical work (e.g. neutron star and black hole solutions in and outside General Relativity, gravitational-waves from inspiraling compact binaries,  black hole shadows) to a combination of theory and data-analysis (e.g. Bayesian model selection and parameter estimation) associated with extreme gravity instruments, such as the ground-based (LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA) and space-based gravitational-wave detectors (LISA) and the Event Horizon Telescope.

In addition to Professor Yunes, the Illinois Relativity Group includes Professors Stu Shapiro and Helvi Witek, their postdocs, PhD and undergraduate research students. The group is part of the Center for Theoretical Astrophysics at UIUC, which also includes Professors Charles Gammie, Gil Holder and Peter Adshead. The Illinois Relativity Group maintains close interactions with other UIUC colleagues in Physics, Astronomy and the NCSA, as well as collaborators across the globe. 

Interested candidates will submit an application at https://my.physics.illinois.edu/submit/go.asp?id=1398 which must include the following separate documents:

• A curriculum vitae, 
• A list of publications, with a summary of total papers published, number of citations to papers and h-index.  
• A list of presentations given outside of the candidate’s local university. 
• A brief research statement  (3-page limit, 1-inch margins, 12 pt font), 
• The names, mailing and email addresses of three references. 

Please contact Betsy Greifenkamp at greifenk@illinois.edu if you have any questions. Applications should be posted by DEC 1, 2019 for full consideration. The starting date of the position is summer, 2020.