The Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow in Strongly Coupled Matter for its Unit of Excellence Maria de Maeztu postdoctoral positions. Find out more positions in related areas here.

The ICCUB is an interdisciplinary center with more than 60 long term scientists, 20 engineers and 80 postdoctoral researchers (55% international) and PhD students (30% international) offering an international and multicultural environment. The ICCUB also hosts a vibrant fundamental research program in cosmology, astrophysics and particle physics, with a strong technology unit supporting our participation in international collaborations in observational astronomy and experimental particle physics.

Job description

We will investigate the properties of strongly coupled matter in two situations with potential synergies with other lines, especially with gravitational waves.

1. Strongly coupled matter in a cosmological context. Motivations for this come from the QCD phase transition one microsecond after the Big Bang, from the possible existence of Grand Unified Theories beyond the Standard Model, or from the possibility that dark matter is strongly self-interacting. We will pay particular attention to the production of gravitational waves, especially in the presence of phase transitions. There are also potential implications for new production mechanisms of primordial black holes.

2. Strongly coupled matter in neutron star mergers. The gravitational wave signal produced in these mergers depends on the properties of strongly coupled QCD matter, ranging from static ones (equation of state) to dynamical ones (transport coefficients, etc). We will employ a variety of approaches to connect these microscopic properties to the experimental signal detected at LIGO and VIRGO.

The priority lines of the Maria de Maeztu proposal can be found here.

To know more about the research interests of the ICCUB, please follow this link.

Employment conditions:

Position is for two years renewable for a third year depending on performance and funding.

Gross annual salary will be in the range of 32 to 36 k€, with included social security and public healthcare benefits, covering spouse and children.

Position is expected to begin no later than the fall of 2021, although exceptions can be made in cases of maternity/paternity or other special circumstances.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

ICCUB offers and promotes a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation (for additional information please see the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call or email secretaria@icc.ub.edu with their request.

Application procedure:

Documents that will be required for your application are:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Research Description and Plan (maximum 6 pages)
• Three letters of recommendation
• URL to publications in a public database

All applications must be submitted online through this link.

Inquiries about the application submission can be directed to Esther Pallares (secretaria@icc.ub.edu).

For inquiries about the scientific aspects, please contact Prof. David Mateos (dmateos@fqa.ub.edu) or Prof. Àngels Ramos (ramos@fqa.ub.edu)

Deadline:

Applications should be uploaded in here before December 8th to receive full consideration, but those uploaded later will also be considered until positions are filled.

Funding:

The position is financed by the State Agency for Research of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the "Unit of Excellence María de Maeztu 2020-2023" award to the Institute of Cosmos Sciences (CEX2019-000918-M).

The Unit of Excellence Maria de Maeztu recognition has been awarded by the Spanish Government in 2020 for the second time to the ICCUB, as a center with a highly competitive strategic research programmes in the frontiers of knowledge.