Research Assistant/Associate Exoplanetary Science (Fixed Term)

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position at the Institute of Astronomy (IoA), University of Cambridge to work within the research group of Dr Amy Bonsor, Associate Professor and Royal Society University Research Fellow: https://people.ast.cam.ac.uk/~abonsor/.

The research group has broad interests spanning questions involving the link between planet formation and the composition of exoplanets, with a strong focus on white dwarf planetary systems.

The IoA offers a vibrant research environment for exoplanetary science with groups working in a wide range of areas, including exoplanet detection and characterization, exoplanetary atmospheres and interiors, planet formation and circumstellar environments. The University of Cambridge provides a diverse research community, with many cross-disciplinary interactions, including those linked to the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong expertise in astronomical spectroscopy, preferably linked to white dwarfs. Candidates with strong relevant expertise not listed above are encouraged to get in touch and discuss further their relevance to the position with Dr Bonsor (abonsor@ast.cam.ac.uk).

The successful applicant will pursue independent and collaborative research, develop interactions with the faculty, postdoctoral researchers and research students. They will disseminate research findings via publications & other media, (international workshops/conferences) and are encouraged to participate in teaching and learning, in postgraduate research student supervision and in outreach.

Applicants must have a PhD in Astronomy, Planetary Science or related discipline*. Successful candidates will be expected to complete research in a collegial environment, with strong communication and computing skills.

A successful candidate with a PhD will be appointed at Grade 7 (Research Associate £37,694 to £46,049 per annum). A candidate who has not been awarded their PhD will initially be appointed at Grade 5 (Research Assistant £34,610 to £35,608 per annum) and, upon award of PhD, promoted to Grade 7.

The purpose of this role is to support and maintain the University's national and international reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Contribution to excellence in research will be as a member of a research team carrying out research at a similar level to that undertaken by lecturing staff and will provide substantial scope for academic judgement, originality, interpretation and presentation of results.

The University of Cambridge thrives on the diversity of its staff and students. Applications from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome. We have an active Equality and Diversity Committee which continually works to further the aims of the Athena SWAN charter. The University has a number of family-friendly policies and initiatives, including a returning-career scheme, childcare costs support, university workplace nurseries, university holiday play-schemes, and a shared parental-leave policy. As part of its commitment to providing a family-friendly environment for researchers, the IoA ensures that should parental leave be needed during the course of employment, there is provision for extension to contract to compensate for the parental leave taken.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Applications must include a cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, list of publications, a statement of research experience and interests (three pages maximum) and contact information of three referees. Please advise referees that references will be requested for 9th March 2026.

The application deadline is 23:59 GMT on Sunday, 1st March 2026.

Applications will be reviewed after the closing date. Interviews are provisionally planned for 11th March 2026.

Please refer to further particulars for full instructions. For any queries regarding the application process, please contact: hr@ast.cam.ac.uk. Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Amy Bonsor (abonsor@ast.cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference LG48785 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University of Cambridge is a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). DORA recognises the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scholarly research are evaluated. The University expects candidates to apply the principles of DORA when preparing their applications. We do not use journal level metrics when assessing the quality of research outputs. Applicants should not include journal level metrics, such as the Journal Impact Factor, anywhere in their application materials. More information about DORA, its principles and aims can be found at: https://sfdora.org/ and https://www.researchstrategy.admin.cam.ac.uk/research-policy/DORA

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The Institute particularly welcomes applications from women and/or candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Key information

Department/location

Institute of Astronomy

Salary

£34,610 - £35,608
£37,694 - £46,049

Reference

LG48785

Category

Research

Date published

10 February 2026

Closing date

1 March 2026