Ref Number
B04-07365
Professional Expertise
Academic
Department
UCL BEAMS (B04)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
£68,284-£76,244
Contract Type
Permanent
Working Type
On site
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
19-Jul-2026
UCL was the first university in England to welcome students of any class or religion, and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. Scientific research and study has been a strong feature of UCL since its inception in 1826.
The Astrophysics Group is one of the largest in the UK, comprising about 130 members of academic, research and support staff, of which 21 are academic staff members. Our research areas cover cosmology, gravitational waves, galaxy formation and evolution, massive stars, star formation and stellar evolution, interstellar and circumstellar processes, exo-planetary and planetary science, atmospheric physics and instrumentation.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy has a strong track record of investment and scientific leadership in facilities such as DES, DESI, 4MOST, JWST, Euclid, Ariel, Rubin-LSST, PFS, JCMT, Litebird as well as participation at co-I level of instruments on large explorer mission concepts such as Cassini and JUICE with participation in many other mission and instrument concept designs.
The Astrophysics Group in the Department of Physics & Astronomy (P&A) at UCL invites applications for an Associate Professorship in exo-planetary science and stellar-planet interaction with particular interest in (but not exclusive to) exo-planet direct detection, exoplanet-star interactions and stellar system environment characterisation.
With the discovery that every stellar system in the galaxy is statistically a potential host to a similar number of planets as our own, we have entered a new era (a second shift away from anthropocentrism) while facing the reality that there may be many other habitable worlds in our galaxy alone. The next few decades will undoubtedly be the decades of discovery and characterisation of such worlds. UCL has already invested heavily in this field both at MSSL (with contributions to the ESA PLATO mission) and at P&A supporting the ESA Ariel mission. These two exo-planet missions (photometry and spectroscopy respectively), as well as a multitude of facilities in the visible and near infrared from the ground, will yield a wealth of scientific results in the next decade. At the same time, studies for future missions employing coronograph and interferometric techniques are ongoing to expand the detection space of exoplanets to the outer part of stellar systems which is only in its infancy and dominated by proto-planetary studies, also of increasing relevance.
We are seeking to appoint a candidate that will engage with this area of research and lead the effort in exploiting the results of these upcoming and current missions and facilities. This post will not only strengthen this are of the Astrophysics group, but will underpin future research developments for the next generation of studies in exoplanets and/or stellar systems.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Kay Nakum, [email protected] (+44 (0)20 7679 3458)
Informal enquiries regarding the vacancy can be made to the Head of Group:
Prof Giorgio Savini, [email protected]
The successful candidate which we are seeking will be required to carry out world-leading research in terms of originality, significance and rigour on these topics; play a leading role in helping to foster the research environment within the group and the Department in terms of both the science exploitation and science definition activity for nascent and upcoming facilities.
The post-holder will also be required to spend time engaging in external activities that bring national and international esteem to the department and UCL and also contribute to our general aim at UCL of making more equitable and diverse environment for research and education. Many academics in the Department of Physics & Astronomy collaborate closely with the Department of Space & Climate Physics (at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory) and together these two departments have invested heavily in upcoming facilities (both ground and space) for exo-planets and stellar studies.
The post-holder would be expected to commit to high quality teaching and to foster a positive, equitable and inclusive learning environment for students. The post-holder will have a record of successful supervision and mentoring of students and will be expected to attract funding for the supervision of PhD students and to mentor research fellows and early-career researchers.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, UCL also offers competitive benefits, such as:
- 41 days annual leave (including 6 University closure days and 8 UK bank holidays)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Immigration loan and relocation assistance
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we strive for our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. We particularly welcome female applicants and those from an ethnic minority, as they are under-represented within the UCL's Physics and Astronomy Department at the level of the advertised position.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
