"Research Fellow in Observational Astrophysics"

University of Southampton - Astronomy Group

Are you interested in extragalactic astronomy and the study of galaxies and supermassive black holes? Would you like to work in a supportive, collaborative research group engaged in exploiting cutting-edge data from new ground and space-based facilities to address fundamental questions in galaxy evolution? Then this might be the right opportunity for you.

The Astronomy Group within the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southampton invites applications for a Research Fellow in Observational Astrophysics to work with Professor Manda Banerji on an STFC funded research project on AGN and their host galaxies. You will exploit state-of-the-art data from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space Time (LSST), Euclid and 4MOST to constrain the properties of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies and understand co-evolution across a large dynamic range in mass, and over cosmic time. You will be expected to work with colleagues in Southampton as well as international collaborators to lead scientific projects on AGN identification, and measurement of supermassive black hole and host galaxy masses using imaging and spectroscopic data from ground and space.

The Southampton Astronomy Group provides a stimulating and collegial environment with many opportunities to collaborate with other group members. Our main research themes are galaxy evolution, compact objects, and time-domain astrophysics. We are strongly committed to diversity in the student and academic population and you will be supported in developing your career while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

The post is for 3 years and the appointment will be full time on University of Southampton Level 4. In addition, the University offers an attractive benefits package and relocation assistance. The nominal starting date is 1st October 2026.

Please apply through the university's job portal with a cover letter, CV, publication list, and a statement of research interests (2 pages max). In your application, please highlight how your experience and research interests are relevant or transferrable to studying AGN host galaxies and how you plan to exploit data from LSST, Euclid and 4MOST for such studies.

Informal enquiries are welcome via email to Prof Manda Banerji, M.Banerji-Wright@soton.ac.uk.