Research Associate in Galaxy Formation

University of Bath - Physics

Location:	Bath
Salary:	£38,784 rising to £46,049
Hours:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On:	2nd March 2026
Closes:	8th April 2026
Job Ref:	SS13443

About the role

Applications are invited for a Research Associate position in the Astrophysics Group within the Department of Physics at the University of Bath. The successful candidate will work on cosmological simulations of galaxy formation to study the impact of feedback processes and how they manifest themselves observationally, with an aim of calibrating and improving the interpretation of spectroscopic observations from major galaxy surveys.

This position is part of a three-year STFC-funded project led by Dr Martin Rey (PI) with co-leadership from Prof Stijn Wuyts. The primary purpose of this project is to test, calibrate and quantify biases in spectroscopic inferences, particularly around galactic outflows. Extensive computational resources on STFC-DiRAC and connections to observational programmes are available to support this project.

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year.

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded.

About you

Applicants should have, or be close to completion of, a PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, Astronomy, or a related field. Experience with cosmological simulations, spectroscopic data analysis, or computational astrophysics is highly desirable. Strong programming skills (Python or similar) and a demonstrated ability to publish research in peer-reviewed journals are essential.

The successful candidate will join a vibrant research environment with expertise spanning numerical simulations and observational astronomy, with opportunities for career development including co-supervision of PhD students and collaboration with international research teams. The Astrophysics Group has strong links to major galaxy surveys and provides access to high-performance computing resources.

Further information

This is a full-time position (36.5 hours per week) for three years. The expected start date is October 2026, but earlier or later start dates may be considered.

For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Martin Rey at mpr47@bath.ac.uk.