Research Associate in Astronomy
University of Virginia
This job at a glance
- Who can apply
- New grads and up to 3 years
- Must know
- NetworkingBudgetingHRIS
- Work
- On-site in Charlottesville
- Pay
- Not stated by the employer.
- Skill demand
- Budgeting8%Networking2%HRIS1%of 99 similar entry-level jobs posted in the US this week
- Listed
- Oct 29, 2026 · still open
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About the Role
The University of Virginia (UVA) is seeking multiple Postdoctoral Research Associates (PRA) for the new, interdisciplinary Interconnected Cosmos Initiative (ICI). ICI integrates Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Engineering (including Computer Science, Data Science, and Materials Science), and partners like the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) to address fundamental questions in astrophysics, astrochemistry, planetary science, and cosmology.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead ambitious research programs tackling cutting-edge problems in astronomy.
- Develop an interdisciplinary research plan, grounded in and jointly supervised across at least two departments at UVA.
- Participate actively in departmental and Initiative-wide activities, including interdisciplinary workshops, seminars, and collaborations.
- Leverage UVA's and NRAO's cross-departmental strengths in theoretical, observational, computational, or experimental research.
- Utilize UVA's high-performance research computing resources and telescope/instrumentation collaborations.
- Mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
- Engage in networking and professional development opportunities.
Requirements & Tech Stack
- Ph.D. in astrophysics or related discipline by the appointment start date.
- Experience with interdisciplinary research and a willingness to form dual-mentor teams.
- Ability to articulate a research program that spans multiple departments or institutions.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in astrophysics or related discipline.
- Dual-mentor model requires identifying potential mentors or preferred departments/research areas/partner institutions.
Appointment Details
- Initial one-year appointment, with expectation of annual renewal up to three years, contingent upon satisfactory performance and funding availability.
- Salary: $70,000.
- Annual research budget: $8,000.
- Relocation assistance: $2,500.
- Position based at UVA in Charlottesville.
- Eligible for health insurance through the UVA Health Plan.
Application Procedure
Apply online at https://jobs.virginia.edu/us and search for R0088492.
Submit a single compiled PDF document including:
- Cover letter
- CV
- List of publications
- Summary of previous and current research (limited to 3 pages, including references)
- Research proposal (limited to 3 pages of text plus up to 2 pages of references/figures)
Arrange for 3 letters of recommendation to be submitted to https://virginia.app.box.com/f/4cf369b6ae3a4ecfa8c678f044bdadfe with the file name format “CandidateLastName_ReferenceLastName_ICI.pdf”.
Application Deadline
Review of applications begins on December 1, 2026, however, the positions will remain open until filled.
Contact Information
- For position inquiries: Ilse Cleeves ([email protected])
- For Workday inquiries: X (email)
- For interdisciplinary/interdepartmental contact assistance, connect with members of the steering committee:
- Catherine A Dukes ([email protected])
- David A Nichols ([email protected])
- Kent Yagi ([email protected])
- Ryan Loomis ([email protected])
- Kevin Skadron ([email protected])
- Nitya Kallivayalil ([email protected])
- Ajay Limaye ([email protected])
- Paul Torrey ([email protected])
- Rob Garrod ([email protected])
- Jonathan Kropko ([email protected])