Job openings

DAWN regularly offers various positions, from pre-doctoral to professorships.

Additionally, we have several programs for students to come and visit us.

PhD Fellowships in Extragalactic Astrophysics Cosmic Dawn Center, Niels Bohr Institute

The Cosmic Dawn Center and the HEAVYMETAL project at the Niels Bohr Institute, Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen invites applications for PhD Fellow positions starting in September 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter.

About the Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN)
DAWN is a center of excellence funded by the Danish National Research Foundation and is located at the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI), University of Copenhagen and at the Space division of the Danish Technical University (DTU-Space). The center brings together experts in all aspects of early Universe galaxy evolution and is deeply involved in major existing and upcoming surveys with HST, ALMA, Euclid and JWST, theoretical modelling and simulations.

For more information on the Center's activities and researchers, please take a tour on this site (e.g. research, about, news, or wikiDAWN).

The HEAVYMETAL project, funded by the European Research Council, aims to understand the nuclear and astrophysical origin of the heaviest elements in neutron star mergers.

Who are we looking for?
We invite applications from outstanding candidates with a background in astronomy, physics, or related technical disciplines with strong motivation for doing research within DAWN’s research themes: high-redshift galaxy evolution, epoch of reionization, first stars and galaxies, dust, cosmochemical evolution, and the ISM in the early universe and dark matter, as well as within HEAVYMETAL’s research area: follow-up observations and modelling of neutron star mergers and kilonovae.

Research projects involving both analysis of observations (including from JWST) and/or theoretical modelling are available. Positions are available for three years for candidates holding a 2-year MSc, or for four to five years in the “Integrated MSc and PhD programme” for very strong candidates holding a 1-year MSc or BSc only.

The PhD programme
Depending on your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:

Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhDprogramme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelor's degree.

Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme 

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Physics, Astronomy or other related technical discipline. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme 
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme 
If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of the integrated programme
To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Astrophysics. Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.

The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”.

Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of at least 150 working hours per year. A PhD grant portion is DKK 6,397 before tax.

When you have obtained the MSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

  • Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)
  • Carry through an independent research project under supervision
  • Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
  • Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
  • Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
  • Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
  • Write and defend a PhD thesis based on your project

We are looking for the following qualifications

  • Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
  • Relevant work experience
  • Relevant publications
  • Other relevant professional activities
  • Curious mind-set with a strong interest in the research themes of DAWN
  • Excellent English language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

  1. A statement describing your research interests, experience and background and your motivation for applying for a PhD position at DAWN (maximum 2 pages, text, figures and references included).
  2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, any publications, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
  3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If the education is not yet completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
  4. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline
The deadline for applications is 5 March 2023, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the above mentioned requirements.

The further process 
After the deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about DAWN, please contact Charlotte Mason ([email protected]) or Guarn Nissen ([email protected]). For information about HEAVYMETAL, contact Darach Watson, [email protected].

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

PhD Scholarships in Extragalactic Astronomy at the Cosmic Dawn Center - DTU Space

Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
 

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN) at the Section for Astrophysics and Atmospheric Physics at DTU Space, invites applications for a PhD Fellowship position starting in September 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter.

DAWN is a center of excellence funded by the Danish National Research Foundation, and is located at the National Space Institute (DTU Space), Technical University of Denmark and the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI), University of Copenhagen.  The center brings together experts in all aspects of early Universe galaxy evolution and is deeply involved in major existing and upcoming surveys with HST, ALMA, Euclid and JWST, as well as cosmological and zoom-in simulations.  This call covers PhD positions based at DTU-Space.  DAWN has a number of associate members at major research institutes across Europe, North America, and Australia.  PhD students will have both an advisor in Copenhagen and an external advisor at one of our affiliated research institutes.  Students will also be expected to spend several months outside of Denmark, which could be at one of our affiliated institutes or another major research institute.  Our most recent PhD students have used this time at Cornell, Hawaii, and Oxford. For more information on the Center's activities and researchers, please see www.cosmicdawn.dk.

Responsibilities, qualifications and project description
Fellowships are intended for outstanding candidates with a background in astronomy, physics, or related technical disciplines who are interested in doing research within DAWN’s research themes: high-redshift galaxy evolution, epoch of re-ionization, first stars and galaxies, dust and ISM in the early universe and dark matter.

The PhD fellowships will be in observational astrophysics with the focus on galaxy evolution. One of the PhD fellowships will focus on characterising the properties of the most actively star-forming galaxies population in the history of the Universe: starburst galaxies. These dust-rich galaxies form stars 10-100 times faster than the Milky Way, and have (since their discovery in the 1990’s) been difficult for simulation to reproduce. Their exact role in the galaxy evolution models is therefore still unknown. By characterising their physical properties (i.e. sizes, shapes and masses) using multi-wavelengths observations from e-MERLIN, VLA and JWST (radio to near-infrared), this project will provide key information in order to answer one of the big outstanding questions: what drives the star-formation in starburst galaxies.

The position is available for three years for candidates already holding a MSc. The successful applicants are expected to: manage and carry out their own research project, write half-year progress reports, disseminate results at conferences and through scientific articles, undertake teaching duties (up to 15% of working time) and attend PhD courses (30 ECTS). Also, a mandatory research stay during a semester abroad is to be foreseen.        

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Applicable for all scholarships

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
The successful candidate has outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills to become a committed researcher with a drive for excellence. Programming experience (python/IDL) and experience in handling of large data sets are an advantage but not required.

The assessment of the applicants will be made by the DTU Space and DAWN staff.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Starting date is in September 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from: Associate Professor Georgios Magdis ([email protected]), tel.: +45 4525 9688 or Dr. Bitten Gullberg ([email protected]).

You can read more about DTU Space at www.space.dtu.dk and the Cosmic Dawn Center at www.cosmicdawn.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 15 March 2023 (Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

  • A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

Incomplete applications will not be considered. You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Space has about 145 employees, an annual turn-over of about 130 MDKK and it is located at the Lyngby Campus of the Technical University of Denmark together with 19 other institutes within the technical sciences. As the National Space Institute, DTU Space is the leading institution of public space activities in Denmark. The mission of the Institute is to conduct research, development, public sector consultancy, education and innovation at the highest international level within the following areas: Space Technology & Instrumentation, Earth Observation & Geoscience and Space- & Astro-physics.

In the Astrophysics and Atmospheric Division, current focus areas cover large-scale structure of the universe, physics of compact objects, space weather, upper atmosphere physics and cosmo-climatology as well as development of instrumentation, in particular high-energy instrumentation, i.e. X- and gamma ray detectors and -optics. The division is currently active in operation of instruments on and data analysis from three satellites. The division also runs four instrumentation laboratories and hosts a center for space weather research and forecasts.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,400 students and 5,800 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

Internships at DAWN

There are several programs that allows you to visit DAWN and carry out exciting research projects!

DAWN-IRES Scholars Program. A unique global educational training experience, usually in the Summer, for a diverse cohort of US-based students.

[email protected] Summer School

TBD

Student helpers

Sometimes we have the possibility of hiring MSc students to help with technical and administrative tasks. If you are enrolled at KU or DTU, you may be eligible for that. Please get in contact with us to see if we are looking for a student like you!