Two postdoctoral researcher positions in Astrophysics

You will work closely with experts in machine learning / deep learning and simulations of galaxy formation and evolution within SRON and The University of Groningen.

Your position and team
The Astrophysics program at SRON is headed by dr. Frank Helmich. Deputy head is dr. Jan-Willem den Herder. The Astrophysics science group attached to this program consists currently of 52 persons, largely filled in by externally funded positions and guest scientists.

You will join the research group led by dr. Lingyu Wang at SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research and University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

Your project
Galaxy mergers result from cataclysmic collisions between galaxies, triggering intense bursts of star formation, rapidly feeding supermassive black holes in galactic centers, and eventually forming a new single entity under the influence of gravity. Mergers are among the most violent events in the Universe and therefore have a profound influence on the structure of the cosmos. The overarching goal of this project is to greatly advance our knowledge of galaxy evolution by quantifying, in detail, the role of galaxy mergers across cosmic time, using an integrated approach that combines three recent breakthroughs in high-resolution galaxy surveys, computer vision using deep learning techniques, and state-of-the-art cosmological simulations.