Opening Date: November 7, 2025
Closing Date: December 7, 2025
Ref:IFAE2025/44_GAMMA-RAYS_SO_Postdoc

The Gamma-ray Astronomy research group at the Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) in Barcelona is looking for a motivated and talented candidate for a 2-year post-doctoral position, to work in the commissioning and early scientific exploitation of the Large-Sized Telescopes of the CTAO-North array.

About IFAE

IFAE is an internationally recognized center for fundamental research in Particle Physics, Astroparticle Physics, and Cosmology. Its main mission is to advance these fields through theoretical, experimental, and technological research. IFAE offers an international, dynamic, and competitive environment for the training of young researchers. IFAE has been accredited three times with the “Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence” distinction, most recently for the 2025-2028 period.

About the IFAE Gamma-ray Astronomy group

The IFAE Gamma-ray Astronomy research group is a leader in the development and scientific exploitation of state-of-the-art, ground-based gamma-ray telescopes. As a key member of the MAGIC and CTAO-LST collaborations, the group develops critical hardware, software, and data management solutions. Our members are recognized experts in gamma-ray data analysis, with research spanning astrophysical phenomena and fundamental physics. Building on this expertise, the group is also expanding its focus to space-based missions. We are contributing to the High Energy cosmic-Radiation Detection (HERD) experiment, a next-generation detector for the Chinese Space Station. In parallel, we pursue R&D for future gamma-ray missions and play an active role in ESA proposals, including new-ASTROGAM, the envisioned successor to the Fermi-LAT satellite, and other compact mission concepts targeting complementary energy ranges.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will: Participate in the commissioning of the array of Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) of the CTAO-North array (La Palma, Spain), mainly through the analysis of early observations for the verification of the scientific performance of the facility. Develop reconstruction, simulation, analysis or data-management tools for gamma-ray astronomy. Participate in the early scientific exploitation of the CTAO-North LST array (data analysis and interpretation). The IFAE group is (or has been) engaged in a broad range of gamma-ray astronomy research, including the study of galactic and extragalactic sources, gamma-ray propagation, and fundamental physics topics such as dark matter searches and tests of Lorentz Invariance Violation. The successful candidate, as a member of the CTAO-LST collaboration, will have the opportunity to pursue research in their area of interest—whether within these topics or beyond—by participating in, or even leading, observation proposals and the resulting scientific publications.

Learn more about the position and how to apply on the IFAE website: https://www.ifae.es/careers/jobs/2025/11/post-doctoral-position-in-gamma-ray-astronomy/