We are seeking two highly motivated postdoctoral researchers to join the ERC Advanced Grant project SOPHIA, led by Prof. Leen Decin at the Institute of Astronomy of KU Leuven.
SOPHIA aims to transform our understanding of how stars evolve by moving beyond simplified models and accounting for key physical processes such as mass loss, stellar winds, and binary interactions. A central challenge in modern astrophysics is to understand how these processes shape stars during their late stages and ultimately influence the evolution of galaxies.
The project combines cutting-edge observations, advanced modelling, and large datasets, including the upcoming Gaia Data Release 4 (DR4).
Host institute
The selected candidate(s) will be integrated within the research group of Prof. Leen Decin of the Institute of Astronomy of KU Leuven in Belgium. We are a young and vibrant research group of about 80 scientists, engineers, and administrative staff, including 7 full-time and 3 part-time professors. The institute is a world-leading expertise centre in stellar astrophysics and is active in several international consortia and collaborations. Members have access to parallel and supercomputing facilities. The institute is further responsible for the organisation of the 2-year Master programme in Astronomy & Astrophysics of the Faculty of Science, and operates the 1.2m Mercator telescope at Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma Observatory, Canary Islands.
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Responsibilities
We are recruiting two postdoctoral researchers, each focusing on a complementary aspect of the project:
Position A: Stellar Winds, Mass Loss, and Radiative Transfer Modelling
This position focuses on understanding how stars lose mass and how their winds are accelerated in the late stages of stellar evolution.
The postdoctoral researcher will:
- Derive mass-loss rates and wind properties from high-quality molecular line observations
- Apply and further develop the group’s radiative transfer code POMME to extract detailed physical information from spectral line shapes
- Extend POMME towards a full non-LTE implementation, building on existing developments and integrating fast solvers for the kinetic rate equations
- Investigate dust formation and wind-driving mechanisms by modelling spectral energy distributions, including infrared data
- Analyse a unique sample of well-characterised evolved stars to uncover how mass loss depends on stellar properties such as pulsation, luminosity, temperature, and mass
Position B: Binary Star Evolution with Gaia
This position focuses on understanding how interactions between stars in binary systems shape their evolution.
The postdoctoral researcher will:
- Develop advanced data-analysis methods to improve orbital and stellar parameters for evolved stars using Gaia DR4 data
- Address challenges related to stellar variability and observational biases by combining astrometric and photometric data
- Analyse large samples of evolved binary stars to map their orbital properties
- Study how processes such as mass transfer, tidal interactions, and angular momentum exchange influence stellar evolution at the population level
Both researchers will play a leading role in their respective research directions, collaborate closely with team members, and contribute to the broader scientific goals of SOPHIA.
Profile
Postdoc applicants must hold a PhD in astrophysics or an equivalent diploma. Proficiency in English is required.
Position A: This position is particularly suited for candidates with a strong interest in radiative transfer, computational modelling, spectroscopy, and high-performance scientific coding.
Position B: This position is particularly suited for candidates with an interest in data-intensive astrophysics, statistics, large surveys (e.g. Gaia), and stellar dynamics.
Offer
The successful postdoctoral applicant will be offered a 1(+1)-year contract (position A) or 1.5(+1)-year contract (position B), with the additional 1-year being awarded after positive evaluation. The salary will be commensurate to the standard scale for postdoc researchers in Belgium and will depend on the number of years of experience after PhD. In addition, you will receive a generous package of pay and non-pay benefits, including a holiday bonus, end-of-year bonus, holiday allowance, free hospital insurance, free public transport when commuting, a bicycle allowance, staff discount scheme, access to our sports and cultural facilities at special rates, etc. The foreseen starting date will be between September 1st 2026 and January 1st 2027 but can be negotiated.
The postdoc will be encouraged to take up training in science and people management, science communication and grant application writing with the aim to develop a personal independent career track as well as engaged in the supervision of bachelor and master students. As part of the employment requirements, postdocs at the IoA have to take up support teaching tasks in one of the Bachelor (in Dutch) or Master (in English) programmes or other service duties, for at maximum of 20% of their working time
Interested?
The application package should contain:
• A curriculum vitae, with publication list. On the last page, it should include the names and email addresses of two reference persons (references letters are NOT required at this stage; these will only be asked for the short-listed candidates)
• A statement of interest (max. 1 page). Important: In the first sentence, please clearly indicate which position you are applying for (Position A and/or Position B).
• A summary of the research experience (max. 2 pages)
Further information on the positions and on the project may be obtained by contacting the promotor of the project, Prof. Leen Decin (leen.decin-at-kuleuven.be) or Dr. Clio Gielen (clio.gielen-at-kuleuven.be). Please note that both contact persons will be unavailable between 17/7 and 1/8, so expect a delay in response in this period.
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