University of Chicago, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Prize ID:

UChicago-A&A-EMB2026 [#32565]

Prize Title:

E. Margaret Burbidge Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship in Astrophysics

Prize Type:

Postdoctoral

Location:

Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States of America

Subject Areas:

Astrophysics / Astronomy, Astrophysics, Astrophysics and Gravitational Physics, Black holes, Computational Astrophysics, Cosmology, Dark Matter, Exoplanet Imaging, Exoplanets, Experimental Astrophysics, Extragalactic Astrophysics, Galaxy Formation, High Energy Astrophysics, Instrumentation/Observation/Experiment, Interstellar Medium, Neutrino Astronomy, Numerical Astrophysics, Numerical Simulations, Observational, particle astrophysics, Physics, Planet formation, Relativity, Star formation, Stellar Astrophysics, Theoretical Astrophysics

Appl Deadline:

2026/11/01 23:59:59 (posted 2026/08/31, listed until 2026/12/15)

Description:

The University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics is pleased to invite applications for the E. Margaret Burbidge Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship in Astrophysics (with the University Rank of Postdoctoral Scholar) to begin in the fall of 2027. The E. Margaret Burbidge Prize Fellow will be appointed to renewable one-year terms, for up to three years. The Prize Fellowship seeks entrepreneurial individuals who will actively pursue bold and creative ideas. It carries an annual salary of $80,000, and an annual research expense fund of $15,000. The position includes benefits such as retirement, health and wellness, time off, and sick leave.

Scientists receiving a PhD in physics, astrophysics, astronomy, or related fields between June 2023 and September 2027 are welcome to apply.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to pursue new and innovative research utilizing abundant resources available at the University of Chicago. Research in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics is defined by three broad themes - the Universe where we live, the universe beyond our Milky Way galaxy, and the extreme Universe. These themes are linked through the science, instruments, techniques, and faculty involved in each area, and bound by crosscutting activities that are as important and distinctive to our department as the science themes themselves - computational astrophysics, instrument development, and a multi-messenger approach to exploring and studying the Universe.

Members of the department enjoy guaranteed access to the Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, high-performance computing resources, and state-of-the-art laboratories. Members play leadership roles in major observing programs with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-V), the Simons Observatory, the South Pole Telescope, the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), and others. Our researchers are actively engaged in field-defining effort spanning discovery and characterization of exoplanets and planetary systems; stellar physics; interstellar matter; galaxy formation and evolution; high-energy and plasma astrophysics; experimental and theoretical studies of the cosmic microwave background; theoretical and observational cosmology; and experimental and theoretical particle astrophysics. The University of Chicago is a founding partner of the Giant Magellan Telescope, and department members are involved in the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, the Enrico Fermi Institute, Fermilab, and Argonne National Laboratory. More details can be found at the department website (https://astrophysics.uchicago.edu/research/).

Students, postdocs, and faculty work together to build a culture within the department where all groups of people, including under-represented groups, can thrive. Information about our community values can be found at the department website (https://astrophysics.uchicago.edu/diversityinclusion/).

To apply for an E. Margaret Burbidge Postdoctoral Fellowship, please complete the online application form at Academic Jobs Online (AJO). Required materials are: Cover Letter; Curriculum Vitae; Research Statement - a 1-3 page (not including references) document which summarizes your research accomplishments and plans; and List of Publications. Materials should be submitted as PDF files on the application form. Three letters of reference are also required.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Smith at jmsmith@uchicago.edu.

The positions will remain open until filled; however applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application by November 1, 2026, and ensure that 3 letters of recommendation are received by November 8, 2026. Review of applications will begin November 9, 2026.

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination (https://www.uchicago.edu/non-discrimination).

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-3988 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.

Application Materials Required:

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

Cover letter
Curriculum Vitae
Research statement
Publication list
Three reference letters (to be submitted online by the reference writers on this site. Letters should be submitted by 2026/11/08 11:59PM )

And anything else requested in the description.

Further Info:

https://astro.uchicago.edu/index.php

Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
University of Chicago
5640 S. Ellis Ave
Chicago, IL 60637 (USA)