Downsbrough Endowed Chair in Astrophysics

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers University (Piscataway, NJ, USA) invites applications for the George A. and Margaret M. Downsbrough Chair in Astrophysics, to be appointed at the level of tenured Associate Professor or above. This endowed chair includes a substantial annual research budget. We are seeking an astrophysicist with outstanding accomplishments and excellent future promise in a research area that broadens the interests of the current faculty group, preferably including the detection, characterization, and/or formation of exoplanets.

Rutgers has a 10% share in the Southern African Large Telescope, and Rutgers astronomers participate in collaborations including Advanced ACTPol, HETDEX, Rubin Observatory LSST, and the Simons Observatory, as well as large projects with MeerKAT, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, HST, and JWST, and planning for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Ongoing research covers a broad range of observational and theoretical work in cosmology, galaxy formation and evolution, dark matter, galaxy clusters, gravitational lensing, star clusters, star formation, astrophysical turbulence, and supernovae and their remnants.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or foreign equivalent to a Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, or a closely related field, and an outstanding record of research. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an independent research program, attract external funding, effectively teach courses in astrophysics, and mentor Rutgers' diverse undergraduate and graduate students.

Applications should include a cover letter, CV, publication list, 3-4 page statement of research accomplishments and plans, 2-3 page statement of teaching and mentoring accomplishments and plans, and names of three potential references (candidates will be contacted before any letters are solicited). All materials should be submitted online via ROCS. Review of applications will begin in January 2023 and will continue until the position is filled.

Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the search committee, chaired by Prof. Saurabh W. Jha, at downsbroughsearch@physics.rutgers.edu, or to any of the Rutgers astronomy faculty.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or foreign equivalent to a Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, or a closely related field, and an outstanding record of research.