Our Research

Vacancies & Fellowship Opportunities

For current job opportunities at Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, please see the University of Manchester's Job opportunities.

e-Merlin support scientist positions available

Applications are now open for two e-MERLIN support scientist roles. Deadline for applications: 10th August 2015. For more details and to apply, please see the University jobs pages.

Postgraduate studentships in astrophysics

Visit our postgraduate study pages to find out more about opportunities for studying towards an MSc, MPhil, or PhD in astrophysics as well as current PhD projects.

STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowships (July 2014)


***Please note that all places for the Rutherford Fellowships 2014 have now been filled***


The School of Physics and Astronomy invites applications from candidates wishing to be considered for a 2014 STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship to be based in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester. Ernest Rutherford Fellowships enable outstanding researchers the opportunity to pursue full-time research for a period of up to five years. For details see STFC .

Candidates can only apply on behalf of one UK institution, and need to first apply to the proposed host to obtain support, before applying to STFC. Each prospective host may only support a limited a number of applicants.

Expressions of interest submitted by 18 July will be given full consideration in the initial selection. Expressions may be submitted later and will be considered if there are places remaining. You expression of interest should include

a full curriculum vitae,
your 5 best publications and a statement detailing your contribution to these papers,
a brief description of your proposed research project (1 side A4),
names of up to three referees.

The JBCA is one of the largest astronomy groups in the UK, with 26 permanent academic staff. It operates the Jodrell Bank Observatory and e-MERLIN, and hosts the international headquarters for the SKA project. The UK ALMA regional centre is hosted in Manchester. Active research areas in Manchester range from cosmology to planets, with particular strengths in pulsars, gravitational lensing, CMB (e.g. Planck), evolved stars and star formation, and solar astronomy. There is also an active instrumentation group spanning the wavelength range from sub-mm to centimetre. Observational interests further include the VLT and the VLTI.

Applications are welcomed within any of the research activities, including the SKA, of the JBCA.

Informal enquiries for astronomy and astrophysics may be made to Prof. Albert Zijlstra, email: albert.zijlstra (at) manchester.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0)161 306 3925.

Applications to be sent by e-mail to albert.zijlstra (at) manchester.ac.uk, copied to Jennifer.lockhart at manchester.ac.uk .

If you are successful in the pre-selection, we will work with you on the proposed research plan for the full Rutherford application, due 25 September.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in the School of Physics & Astronomy.

STFC Returner Fellowships (July 2014)

In addition to the Rutherford Fellowships, additional Returner Fellowships can be awarded to outstanding candidates returning from a career break or from working outside academic research. The period of absence from active research, of two years or more, may have been due to illness, family or caring responsibilities or working in non-academic employment. Please see the STFC website for more information. The procedure is the same as for the Rutherford Fellowship, but there is no quota system. Applications can be send to the address above at any time up to the end of August.

MARIE CURIE INTRA-EUROPEAN FELLOWSHIPS (July 2014)

The EU deadline for applying for Marie Curie fellowships is Sept 11, and we are interested in hosting suitable candidates in any area of our research, including the SKA. If you would like to apply to work at JBCA as a Marie Curie fellow, please contact us before the end of August.