Job Information
Organisation/Company: Universitat de Barcelona
Department: Organisation profile
Research Field: Astronomy
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: PhD Positions
Application Deadline: 15 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid)
Country: Spain
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 37,5
Offer Starting Date: 1 Dec 2026
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Reference Number: PID2024-155720NB-I00
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
The candidate will make a substantial contribution to the research project "Globular cluster formation (GCform)" of Prof Mark Gieles. Globular clusters are invaluable for early Universe cosmology, galaxy formation and stellar astrophysics. Stellar-mass black holes (BHs) and intermediate-mass BHs) have been discovered in several globular clusters, and it has been suggested that globular clusters are efficient factories of dynamically assembled binary black hole (BBH) mergers observable through their gravitational wave (GW) emission. This postdoctoral research project aims to understand star cluster formation through detailed N-body models and a comparison with observations from the Gaia space telescope. The simulations cover a range of cluster masses, densities and metallicities and will be used to achieve several science goals:
- Understand the efficiency of the formation of binaries containing a stellar mass BH, with a particular focus on Gaia BHs in preparation of Gaia DR4.
- Establish whether low-mass open clusters in the Milky Way contain stellar-mass black holes.
- Benchmark the fast cluster evolution code clusterBHBdynamics (cBHBd).
- Understand the nature of runaway massive stars
More information: https://seu.ub.edu/ofertaPublicaCategoriaPublic/listPublicacionsAmbCategoria?categoria.id=971837
Where to apply
Website: http://www.ub.edu/caiac/solBeca?idConvocatoria=50603
Requirements
Research Field: Astronomy
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- Numerical simulations, in particular N-body and stellar evolution
- Simulation data analysis and code development
- Critical thinking and scientific writing skills
Languages: ENGLISH — Level: Excellent
Languages: SPANISH
Languages: CATALAN
Research Field: Astronomy
Additional Information
Benefits
A full-time work contract (37.5 hrs/week).
Eligibility criteria
- Suitability of the CV for the job (maximum 40)
- Match to the specific research field (maximum 20)
- Motivation letter (maximum 20)
- Experience in the research field (maximum 20).
Selection process
The specific committee will agree upon an award proposal and draw up a prioritized shortlist of candidates who have achieved a minimum of 60 points or declare the call for applications null and void if none of the applicants reach the minimum score.
The award proposal will be published in the UB's electronic office and must include the total scores of the candidates that have received a total of at least 60 points.
Application Process:
According to the specific requirements and selection criteria, the candidates are expected to provide at least the following documents:
Full CV
Motivation letter
Additional comments
The candidate proposed for hiring must accept the job offer within 3 working days from the date of notification of the selection.
Be aware that the starting date sets in this offer is an estimate date. The official starting date will depend on the time necessary for administration to prepare the labour contract and present the necessary documents for the selected candidate to be hired.
Priority will be given to people with disabilities (Law 89/2015 of June 2, reserve of quota 2% in favour of people with disabilities in companies of 50 or more people).
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Department of Quantum Physics and Astrophysics. Institute of Cosmos Sciences, Faculty of Physics.
Country: Spain
State/Province: Barcelona
City: Barcelona
Postal Code: 08028
Street: Carrer Martí i Franqués, 1-11
Contact
State/Province: Barcelona
City: Barcelona
Website: https://www.ub.edu
Street: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585
Postal Code: 08007

