Instituto de Astronomía, UNAM
DEADLINE
July 23rd, 2024
START DATE
March 1st, 2025
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Instituto de Astronomía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (IA-UNAM), offers postdoctoral fellowships for one year, renewable for a second year depending on performance. Candidates interested in taking up a fellowship at the IA-UNAM either in México City or Ensenada, Baja California, should apply directly to the IA-UNAM. Applications should not be submitted to more than one Institute or Campus at UNAM.
Fellows are expected to carry out original research in any area of Astrophysics, collaborating with researchers and students. The main selection criteria are outstanding research accomplishments and promise of future achievement. Fellows will have competitive access to the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional in San Pedro Mártir, Baja California (OAN-SPM), the Observatorio Astronómico Guillermo Haro in Sonora, and the Large Millimeter Telescope Alfonso Serrano in Puebla, as well as access via collaboration to several international projects (for more details, see here). In addition, the Institute has extensive computing facilities and members of the Institute have access to UNAM’s general supercomputers. The IA-UNAM provides funds for publishing and some support for observing and traveling.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested applicants must contact an IA-UNAM researcher to define a research project to work jointly during the fellowship.
Before applying, candidates should ensure that they meet the minimum requirements – any application not meeting these requirements is automatically rejected. Applicants should:
- Have received their Ph.D. no more than 5 years before the start date of the fellowship.
- Have a minimum of one published article in a refereed journal.
- Present a research project in collaboration with an IA-UNAM researcher.
- Any other requirement stated in the DGAPA publication of the postdoctoral fellowship in https://dgapa.unam.mx/index.php/formacion-academica/posdoc
Also, applicants should contact Dr. Vladimir Avila-Reese (convocatorias@astro.unam.mx) in advance of the official deadlines mentioned above to be considered and to receive the application form and compromise letter template.
Applicants should send by email:
- a) Cover letter,
- b) Abstract of their Ph.D. thesis,
- c) Curriculum Vitae including a full list of refereed publications,
- d) Two letters of recommendation addressed to Dr. Yair Krongold, director of the Instituto de Astronomía, UNAM,
- e) Application form (requested by email),
- f) Copy of INE for Mexican applicants or copy of passport for foreign applicants,
- g) Curriculum synthesis of the researcher at the IA-UNAM with whom the candidate will work,
- h) Compromise letters from applicant and the researcher at the IA-UNAM (form requested by email),
- i) Copy of proof of the applicant’s Ph.D. degree or exam,
- j) Letter from the researcher at the IA-UNAM with whom the candidate will work expressing his/her opinion on the applicant’s work, and
- k) A research project, which must be defined with the IA-UNAM researcher with whom the candidate will work.
All documents should be e-mailed to Dr. Vladimir Avila-Reese before the deadline: convocatorias@astro.unam.mx.
A full list of faculty members and their research interests can be found for the Mexico City campus here (researchers are separated into four academic departments) and for the Ensenada campus here.
If the application is pre-selected by the IA-UNAM’s internal council, the applicant will be required to fill in an application form and submit a copy of their birth certificate and Ph.D. certificate (if available). For the application, all documents can be sent in pdf format. It is not necessary to send originals.
STIPENDS AND BENEFITS
The fellowship stipend is 32,000 pesos per month in IA-CU and 35,000 pesos in IA-Ensenada. Major medical expense insurance is provided for the fellow and his/her spouse and children residing in Mexico.
SELECTION
Fellowships are assigned by a specialist University committee in the natural and physical sciences, based on a shortlist drawn up by the internal council of the IA-UNAM. Our Institute is assigned one or two fellowships each semester.
The IA-UNAM is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage, in particular, applications by women and by members of minories.
Contact for more information and details:
Dr. Vladimir Avila-Reese
convocatorias@astro.unam.mx
