Dunlap Postdoctoral Fellowships in Astronomy and Astrophysics

About this position

• The University of Toronto invites applications for the Dunlap
• Postdoctoral Fellowships within the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and
• Astrophysics. The Dunlap Institute pursues innovative astronomical
• technologies and observational research to advance our understanding
• of the Universe, in close collaboration with colleagues in the David
• A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (DADDAA) and in the
• Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA).

• Dunlap Fellows are expected to conduct a program of original research
• either independently or in collaboration with others at the University
• of Toronto and will be offered professional development and mentoring
• across a range of topics relevant to a scientific career. Candidates
• will be selected based on:

• potential for innovative research in instrumentation, software, and/or observations,

• synergy with existing activities within the Dunlap Institute.

• (Potential for innovative research can be established through past
• accomplishments, future plans, publications, reference letters, or any
• combination thereof.)

• Dunlap Fellows have access to laboratories, fabrication facilities and
• computing clusters, and can propose for additional internal support
• for their experimental and/or computational plans. Dunlap Fellows are
• also encouraged to participate in the Institute's outreach and
• training initiatives. The range of activities and opportunities in
• research, outreach and training can be seen on the Dunlap Institute's
• web site.

• The Dunlap Institute, DADDAA, and CITA together host more than 150
• staff and students in astronomy, who conduct a diverse research
• program across instrumentation, observation, computation and theory.
• The Dunlap Institute is located on a beautiful 19th century campus in
• the heart of one of the world’s great cities. Rated as having one of
• the highest standards of living in the world, Toronto offers a huge
• range of indoor and outdoor pursuits, outstanding food and music, and
• a vibrant and diverse cultural community.

• The Dunlap Institute is committed to an inclusive and flexible
• workplace. We encourage applications from qualified applicants of all
• sexual orientations and gender expressions, racialized people,
• Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and potential
• dual-academic-career hires. Subject to immigration regulations,
• successful candidates will be given the option to take up their
• Fellowships as part-time appointments (such a request need not be made
• as part of a candidate's initial application and will not be disclosed
• to the selection committee).

• Appointments are for three years with a potential consideration of an
• extension of up to five years for instrumentation candidates given the
• long time scales for astronomical instrumentation development. Dunlap
• Fellowships include an annual full-time salary of CAD $81,916 plus
• generous benefits, a research allowance of CAD $20,000 per year,
• relocation assistance, and the opportunity to request additional
• research funds from the Dunlap Institute.

• The nominal commencement date is September 1, 2027. Applicants must
• have earned a PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or a related field at
• the time of appointment. Applicants should have a PhD awarded on or
• after January 1, 2022 (career interruptions or other extenuating
• circumstances will be accommodated and should be noted in the cover
• letter).

• All application materials must be submitted online at
• AcademicJobsOnline, by November 9th, 2026. There are four required
• components of the application:

• A 300-word summary of the applicant’s planned activities as a Dunlap Fellow, submitted via the online application form.

• A 300-word summary of how the applicant will benefit from being hosted by the Dunlap Institute and on how the Dunlap Institute will benefit from hosting the applicant, submitted via the online application form.

• A cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a publication list, and a three-page detailed description of the applicant’s planned activities as a Dunlap Fellow.

• Three letters of reference (on letterhead and signed), uploaded through AcademicJobsOnline by the applicant’s referees by November 9th, 2026.

• To write the strongest possible application (especially for item 2
• above), applicants are strongly encouraged to review the current list
• of faculty who can act as potential collaborators or mentors.
• Discussing your application with relevant faculty prior to the
• application deadline is recommended but not required.

• Interested applicants should note the existence of other upcoming
• postdoctoral fellowship opportunities at the University of Toronto,
• including CITA Postdoctoral Fellowships, Arts & Science Postdoctoral
• Fellowships, Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black & Indigenous
• Scholars, Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellow Program, and the
• Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship. Those
• interested in these opportunities should contact
• director@dunlap.utoronto.ca for more information.