Queen's University, Queen's Astrophysics Research Group
Position ID:
Queen's University-Queen's Astrophysics Research Group-CANDIAPL [#31361]
Position Title:
Postdoctoral position: software infrastructure for widefield galaxy surveys
Position Type:
Postdoctoral
Position Location:
Kingston, Ontario K7L3N6, Canada
Subject Area:
Salary Range:
$60,000 - $70,000 CAD
Appl Deadline:
2026/01/23 11:59PM
(posted 2025/12/09, listed until 2026/02/27)
(posted 2025/12/09, listed until 2026/02/27)Position Description:
Position Description
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position at Queen's University in Canada focussed on software development for widefield galaxy surveys under the supervision of Dr. Kristine Spekkens. The successful candidate will join the Canadian Data Intensive Astrophysics PLatform (CanDIAPL) team. CanDIAPL is a pan-Canadian project to convert the enormous raw data streams from next-generation radio, optical and multi-messenger facilities (e.g., SKA and its pathfinders, LSST, and LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA) into sophisticated digital databases that astronomers can use to make new discoveries. The successful candidate will join a team of developers working to build software infrastructure to measure the structure and evolution of gas rich, star forming galaxies from widefield radio and optical surveys under the "Dynamic Datasets" theme, with a particular emphasis on the WALLABY widefield HI survey underway on the Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope. Up to 25% of the successful candidate's time will be available for self-directed research. The candidate will join the Queen's Astrophysics Research Group (QUARG), comprising faculty, postdocs and graduate students with research interests in galactic and extragalactic astronomy, dark matter astrophysics, star formation and the ISM, and multimessenger astronomy. Scientific collaborations with Dr. Spekkens' group as well as other QUARG members are strongly encouraged. The initial appointment will be for two years, with the possibility of extensions for additional years subject to performance and the availability of funds. The nominal starting date for the position is September 1, 2026, but flexibility is available. Applications will be assessed against the following criteria: Essential criteria: - A PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or a related field at the time the position starts; - Experience in working with large observed or simulated datasets of galaxies; - Experience in scientific software development and software product management; - Experience debugging/bug-tracking/code review/documentation, e.g., with Git or a similar version control system; - Proficiency in written and oral communication (as evidenced by outputs such as refereed journal publications, conference talks, grants, observing/computing proposals); - Ability to work within a distributed team (as evidenced by prior experience within a team or by a team-oriented mindset). Desirable criteria: - Experience measuring structural properties of star-forming disk or dwarf galaxies; - Experience calibrating, analysing, interpreting and/or validating galaxy maps from radio or optical telescopes; - Experience with relational database design and maintenance; - Knowledge of cluster computing and job scheduling systems (e.g. Slurm, HTCondor), containerisation (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes) and/or cloud infrastructures (e.g. OpenStack, AWS). Queen's University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen's is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized persons, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities. The salary range is $60,000 - $70,000 CAD/year, commensurate with the successful candidate's experience. Research funds are available for travel, computing and publication charges. Benefits are provided, and are governed by University policy and the collective agreement between postdoctoral fellows and the University. Application instructions: All application materials must be submitted online at AcademicJobsOnline; review of applications will begin on Jan 23, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should submit (in PDF format): a cover letter explicitly addressing the essential and desirable selection criteria listed above; a curriculum vitae that includes a list of publications, and a two-page summary of current and future research interests that demonstrates alignment with this position. Applicants should also arrange to have three letters of reference (on letterhead and signed) uploaded through AcademicJobsOnline directly by the writers.Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research statement
- Three reference letters (to be submitted online by the reference writers on this site )
And anything else requested in the position description.
Further Info: