Detection and characterization of planetary systems

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC) in Granada, Spain, offers a postdoctoral position to work in exoplanets and stellar physics. Candidates are expected to carry out their activity in the research line of “Towards the understanding of planetary systems” within the frame of the CARMENES collaboration.

This collaboration aims at detecting terrestrial temperate exoplanets around small red stars with the radial velocity technique to characterize the planetary system as a whole, including its star and circumstellar environment, as we are already doing with Proxima Cen and other benchmark systems. We work on increasing our knowledge on how planets form and evolve and also aim at understanding and characterizing the exoplanet atmospheres. Furthermore, we also need to study their stars, to which our group contributes with our expertise in asteroseismology and stellar models, and to fully understand the system architectures and populations.

The candidate will also have the opportunity to engage in the Phase B activities of HIRES/ELT and the preparation of the PLATO mission.

Tasks:

• Scientific exploitation of the CARMENES instrument (Calar Alto Observatory, Spain; https://carmenes.caha.es/), with data obtained through guaranteed time observations, and of its extensions (CARMENES Legacy-Plus) or through open time.
• Exoplanet characterization through the analysis e interpretation of high-resolution spectra and the determination of high-precision radial velocities and orbital parameters.
• Depending on the complementary candidate expertise, the candidate will carry out any additional studies of dynamical stability of the planetary system, the circumstellar environment, planet formation, system evolution, influence and correction of the stellar activity on the planetary parameters or atmospheric characterization through the study of wavelength-dependent radial velocity curve amplitudes at transit time, to name a few possibilities.

Requirements:

• Degree in physics and PhD in astrophysics.
• Knowledgeable in scientific programming and fluent in spoken and written English.
• Applications should be sent to Pedro J. Amado (pja@iaa.csic.es) and include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a research statement, and a full list of publications. Candidates should arrange for at least two letters of recommendation to be emailed to the same address by the deadline.

Duration: The appointment will be for 2 years with possibilities for extensions. We estimate that the date of commencement will be during the first quarter of 2022.

Salary: 38 300 Euros/yr (taxes included)

Deadline: January 10, 2022, UT 23:59