About this position
- The Niels Bohr International Academy (NBIA) at the Niels Bohr
- Institute invites expressions of interest for a three-year
- postdoctoral fellowship in theoretical and gravitational wave
- astrophysics. The appointment is expected to begin in fall 2027, but
- other starting dates can be negotiated.
- The postdoctoral fellow will join the Theoretical Astrophysics Group
- led by Martin Pessah and develop research projects as part of a major
- expansion supported by an ERC Advanced Grant and the Carlsberg
- Foundation’s Semper Ardens Accomplish Grant. A main goal of the
- program is to bring together astrophysical fluid dynamics and
- gravitational wave astrophysics to understand the environments leading
- to compact binary mergers, from stellar-mass compact objects to
- supermassive black holes. A central focus is the formation, evolution,
- and observable signatures of black-hole binaries in turbulent,
- magnetized disks around supermassive black holes. Candidates with
- relevant expertise from other areas will receive full consideration.
- We seek a researcher with a record of original research contributions
- and the ability to develop creative and independent research. We
- particularly welcome candidates whose complementary expertise can open
- new directions for the Theoretical Astrophysics Group. The
- postdoctoral fellow will be encouraged to pursue their own research
- ideas and collaborations while contributing to the broader scientific
- program.
- The postdoctoral fellow will have opportunities to mentor students and
- junior researchers and to co-organize international workshops and PhD
- schools. There will also be opportunities to participate in teaching,
- outreach activities, and the organization of seminars. The fellow will
- have access to travel funding and the Tycho high-performance computing
- facility, which includes more than 10,000 CPU cores and GPU resources.
- NBIA is an international center for fundamental research in
- theoretical physics. NBIA provides an open intellectual environment
- where researchers can pursue their own questions and exchange ideas
- across disciplines. It brings together researchers across
- astrophysics, gravitational physics, particle physics, quantum
- sciences, and soft matter physics. NBIA also hosts seminars,
- international visitors, workshops, and PhD schools. Its research in
- black-hole dynamics, gravitational-wave modeling, and multimessenger
- astrophysics offers further opportunities for collaboration. NBIA
- members interact and collaborate with the larger community of
- scientists in Copenhagen, including the Center of Gravity, DAWN, DARK,
- and StarPlan.
- Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, publication
- list, and a research statement describing previous achievements,
- future directions, and connections to the program via Academic Jobs
- Online by November 15, 2026. Expressions of interest received after
- this date may also be considered. Applicants should hold a PhD in
- astrophysics, physics, or a closely related field by the starting date
- of the appointment.
- Employees at the University of Copenhagen receive a competitive
- salary, including pension. Denmark offers generous parental leave,
- subsidized childcare, six weeks of paid vacation, and access to public
- healthcare. Eligible international researchers may also benefit from
- Denmark’s special researcher tax scheme. Copenhagen is a beautiful,
- family-friendly city with a large international community, a lively
- and diverse cultural scene, and a very high quality of life.
The University of Copenhagen welcomes all qualified applicants
regardless of personal background.
Scientific inquiries may be addressed to Martin Pessah (mpessah@nbi.ku.dk)
with email subject ASTRO27PDR
How to apply
- Read the full advert on the source site — it carries the authoritative terms.
- Email the contact below with your CV and a short, specific message. See Emailing Professors.
- Prepare your SOP, CV, transcripts and referees before the deadline.
- Apply through the university's own portal. Never pay a fee to a third party.