E. Margaret Burbidge Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship in Astrophysics

About this position

• The University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics is
• pleased to invite applications for the E. Margaret Burbidge Prize
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Astrophysics (with the University Rank of
• Postdoctoral Scholar) to begin in the fall of 2027. The E. Margaret
• Burbidge Prize Fellow will be appointed to renewable one-year terms,
• for up to three years. The Prize Fellowship seeks entrepreneurial
• individuals who will actively pursue bold and creative ideas. It
• carries an annual salary of $80,000, and an annual research expense
• fund of $15,000. The position includes benefits such as retirement,
• health and wellness, time off, and sick leave. Scientists receiving a
• PhD in physics, astrophysics, astronomy, or related fields between
• June 2023 and September 2027 are welcome to apply. The successful
• applicant will have the opportunity to pursue new and innovative
• research utilizing abundant resources available at the University of
• Chicago. Research in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics is
• defined by three broad themes - the Universe where we live, the
• universe beyond our Milky Way galaxy, and the extreme Universe. These
• themes are linked through the science, instruments, techniques, and
• faculty involved in each area, and bound by crosscutting activities
• that are as important and distinctive to our department as the science
• themes themselves - computational astrophysics, instrument
• development, and a multi-messenger approach to exploring and studying
• the Universe. Members of the department enjoy guaranteed access to the
• Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile,
• high-performance computing resources, and state-of-the-art
• laboratories. Members play leadership roles in major observing
• programs with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the Vera C. Rubin
• Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), the Sloan Digital
• Sky Survey (SDSS-V), the Simons Observatory, the South Pole Telescope,
• the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), the Laser
• Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), and others. Our
• researchers are actively engaged in field-defining effort spanning
• discovery and characterization of exoplanets and planetary systems;
• stellar physics; interstellar matter; galaxy formation and evolution;
• high-energy and plasma astrophysics; experimental and theoretical
• studies of the cosmic microwave background; theoretical and
• observational cosmology; and experimental and theoretical particle
• astrophysics. The University of Chicago is a founding partner of the
• Giant Magellan Telescope, and department members are involved in the
• Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, the Enrico Fermi Institute,
• Fermilab, and Argonne National Laboratory. More details can be found
• at the department website (https://astrophysics.uchicago.edu/research/).
• Students, postdocs, and faculty work together to build a culture
• within the department where all groups of people, including
• under-represented groups, can thrive. Information about our community
• values can be found at the department website (https://astrophysics.uchicago.edu/diversityinclusion/).
• To apply for an E. Margaret Burbidge Postdoctoral Fellowship, please
• complete the online application form at Academic Jobs Online (AJO).
• Required materials are: Cover Letter; Curriculum Vitae; Research
• Statement - a 1-3 page (not including references) document which
• summarizes your research accomplishments and plans; and List of
• Publications. Materials should be submitted as PDF files on the
• application form. Three letters of reference are also required. If you
• have any questions, please contact Jennifer Smith at
• jmsmith@uchicago.edu. The positions will remain open until filled;
• however applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application
• by November 1, 2026, and ensure that 3 letters of recommendation are
• received by November 8, 2026. Review of applications will begin
• November 9, 2026. The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to
• streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not
• used to make hiring decisions. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
• The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does
• not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual
• orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic
• origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a
• disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other
• protected classes under the law. For additional information please see
• the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination (https://www.uchicago.edu/non-discrimination).
• Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the
• application process should call 773-834-3988 or email
• equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.

How to apply

1. Read the full advert on the source site — it carries the authoritative terms.
2. Email the contact below with your CV and a short, specific message. See Emailing Professors.
3. Prepare your SOP, CV, transcripts and referees before the deadline.
4. Apply through the university's own portal. Never pay a fee to a third party.