Postdoctoral Positions at the Rochester Institute of Technology
The Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation (CCRG) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) anticipates filling several postdoctoral positions in the coming year. We are looking for postdoctoral candidates in the areas of modeling of gravitational waves sources and their electromagnetic counterparts with numerical relativity, and gravitational wave data analysis for LIGO and its astrophysical interpretation.
In the area of computational astrophysics and astrophysical numerical relativity we are particularly interested in candidates who are interested in relativistic magneto-hydrodynamics (GRMHD) simulations of accretion disks around supermassive black hole mergers, and jet dynamics. This work will have direct impact on electromagnetic observations of active galactic nuclei, and is part of an ongoing long-term collaborative research effort with Julian Krolik at Johns Hopkins University, Scott Noble at the University of Tulsa, as well as other collaborators.
In the area of numerical relativity we are interested in a candidate capable of working on the initial data and evolution of binary black holes and neutron stars in the framework of the Einstein-toolkit (ETK) and LazEv codes. We seek to develop and optimize current RIT’s group codes as well as semianalytic efforts to model hybrid waveforms and final remnant formulae for LIGO. The ongoing effort includes several faculty, postdocs, and graduate students, as well as external collaborator Nakano at Kyoto University, and others.
In the area of gravitational-wave astronomy, we are particularly interested in candidates who are interested in the data analysis challenges involved in the detection of astrophysical gravitational wave sources, including LMXBs and merging compact binaries; in the parameter estimation of binary compact objects, particularly binary black holes; and in the opportunities afforded by multimessenger astrophysics.
The successful postdoctoral candidates will have the opportunity to collaborate on a broad range of research topics in gravitational physics. Our group is involved in several large collaborations, including the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC), The Einstein Toolkit Consortium, and a Petascale computing project with NCSA.
There are many senior researchers working in a broad range of areas of gravitational physics and astrophysics at the CCRG. This includes Manuela Campanelli (Director), Joshua Faber, Carlos Lousto, Richard O’Shaughnessy, Jason Nordhaus, Yosef Zlochower, John Whelan, and Hans-Peter Bischof (a visualization expert), several postdoctoral fellows and Ph.D. students (see http://ccrg.rit.edu/people for an overview on who is or has been at CCRG). The group also collaborates with many faculty, postdocs and graduate students in the larger astrophysics group, the School of Mathematical Sciences and the School of Physics and Astronomy.
The positions are for two or three years and renewable depending on satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. CCRG researchers have access to several computing cluster facilities at national computing centers such as XSEDE and BlueWaters as well as a dedicated 1600-core cluster hosted at the Center.
More information about the CCRG and Rochester.
Applications should consist of a cover letter, a brief statement of research interests, a curriculum vitae including publication list, and at least three letters of recommendation. All materials should be sent electronically as soon as possible to: ccrg-postdoc@ccrgweb.rit.edu. For an overview of all job openings at CCRG please go to: http://ccrg.rit.edu/spotlight/jobs.
Enquiries can be addressed to the center’s Director:
Manuela Campanelli, Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation, School of Mathematical Sciences, and School of Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) 85 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, New York 14623 USA
Review of completed applications will begin as soon as available and will continue until a suitable candidate is found. Starting date can be as early as September, 2016 or in 2017. RIT is committed to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action.