Two Postdoctoral Positions in Astrophysics at KU Leuven, Belgium

The Institute of Astronomy, KU Leuven is inviting applications for two Postdoctoral Researcher positions under the prestigious ERC Advanced Grant Project "SOPHIA". The project aims to advance our understanding of the interaction physics of giant binary stars using cutting-edge observations, advanced computational modelling, and large astronomical datasets.

Position Details

Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Number of Positions: 2
Institution: KU Leuven
Department: Institute of Astronomy
Project: SOPHIA (ERC Advanced Grant)
Reference Number: BAP-2026-372
Location: Leuven, Belgium

About the Project

The SOPHIA project seeks to transform our understanding of stellar evolution by moving beyond simplified models and investigating key physical processes such as:

Mass loss in stars
Stellar winds
Binary star interactions
Late-stage stellar evolution
Their influence on the evolution of galaxies

Researchers will work with state-of-the-art observational data, advanced numerical modelling techniques, and large astronomical datasets, including the upcoming Gaia Data Release 4 (DR4).

Research Environment

The selected candidates will join the research group led by Prof. Leen Decin at the Institute of Astronomy, KU Leuven. The institute is internationally recognized for excellence in stellar astrophysics and offers:

Access to high-performance and parallel computing facilities.
Collaboration with leading international astronomy research groups.
Participation in major international observational and computational astronomy projects.
Opportunities to work alongside a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and researchers.

Eligibility

Applications are encouraged from highly motivated candidates with:

A Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, or a closely related discipline.
Strong research background relevant to stellar astrophysics or computational astronomy.
Interest in observational data analysis, numerical simulations, and stellar evolution.

Why Apply?

This opportunity offers candidates the chance to:

Work on a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant project.
Contribute to groundbreaking research in stellar and binary star evolution.
Collaborate with internationally renowned researchers.
Access world-class research infrastructure and computational resources.
Build an international research career at one of Europe's leading universities.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application along with all required supporting documents through the official KU Leuven recruitment portal before the application deadline mentioned in the official advertisement.

Official Notification

Applicants are advised to read the complete official notification carefully for detailed eligibility criteria, application procedures, required documents, and important dates before submitting their application.

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