Postdoctoral Fellow in Astrophysics (Stockholm University)

Job Description The Department of Physics is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science at Stockholm University, supporting a broad range of research in experimental and theoretical physics. The department has about 250 employees, including 95 PhD students, many of whom have been internationally recruited. The Department is part of the AlbaNova University Center, which also houses the Department of Astronomy, the Physics Departments at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), and the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (Nordita). The Department and Stockholm University are affiliated with the Stockholm Dual Career Network (SDCN), which supports expat partners with professional events, career advice, and social networking in their new hometown. Project Description We seek outstanding postdoctoral researchers with backgrounds in computational, theoretical, and/or observational projects to develop and deploy cutting-edge machine-learning and AI methods for astrophysics and cosmology. This work will enable precision tests of fundamental physics using current and next-generation galaxy and time-domain surveys. You will work closely with teams on the Rubin Observatory LSST, Euclid, ZTF, and LS4 surveys. Main responsibilities: Field-level inference and simulation-based inference for cosmology. Neural emulators / surrogate models for accelerated forward modeling. Differentiable simulations and probabilistic programming for end-to-end pipelines. Robust uncertainty quantification, systematics mitigation, and domain adaptation. ML for time-domain discovery and characterization (e.g., transients, time-delay cosmography). Environment & Collaborations The position is supported by the Excellence Dark Universe Centre And Technology Enabler (EDUCATE), uniting researchers at Stockholm University and KTH to advance ML for dark matter and dark energy. You will be a member of the Oskar Klein Centre (OKC), a vibrant hub of 100+ researchers in astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and particle physics with active programs in dark matter, dark energy, structure formation, transients, and multi-messenger astrophysics. Postdocs are encouraged to lead visible research projects in major international collaborations and contribute to the broader scientific community through innovative methodology development, survey data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Postdocs may also participate in Nordita scientific programs and join the Aquila Consortium (an international collaboration on ML and data science for cosmic structure) as well as the Learning the Universe initiative, collaborating with institutions such as Columbia University, LBNL, Harvard, Flatiron Institute, Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, Université de Montréal, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, and MPA Garching. Qualification Requirements Applicants must hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent relevant degree from another country, completed no later than when the employment decision is made. Assessment criteria: Doctoral degree obtained within the last three years is preferred; older degrees may be considered under special circumstances (e.g., parental leave, clinical service, or relevant assignments). Strong research skills in astrophysics and cosmology, programming, and machine learning. Fluency in spoken and written English. About the Employment Type: Temporary postdoctoral position Duration: Maximum of 2 years, with possibility of extension under special circumstances Start date: ASAP or as agreed (funding available immediately) Scope: Full-time, 100% Salary: Individual salary setting Stockholm University provides a dynamic, international, and creative work environment located within the National City Park, with good transport links. The university strives to be free from discrimination and provide equal opportunities for all. Contact Prof. Jens Jasche – Phone: +46 8 553 780 37, Email: jens.jasche@fysik.su.se Prof. Ariel Goobar (OKC director and PI of EDUCATE) – Phone: +46 8 553 78659, Email: ariel@fysik.su.se Application Applications should be submitted via Stockholm University’s recruitment system. Attach a personal letter, CV, and all requested documents as specified in the application form. Applicants are responsible for ensuring completeness. Number of positions: 2 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Reference number: SU FV-3414-25 Published: 23 September 2025 Last application date: 19 December 2025 Union representatives: ST/OFR – st@st.su.se Saco-S – saco@saco.su.se Seko – seko@seko.su.se If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Physicaloxy

Job Description

The Department of Physics is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science at Stockholm University, supporting a broad range of research in experimental and theoretical physics. The department has about 250 employees, including 95 PhD students, many of whom have been internationally recruited.

The Department is part of the AlbaNova University Center, which also houses the Department of Astronomy, the Physics Departments at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), and the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (Nordita).

The Department and Stockholm University are affiliated with the Stockholm Dual Career Network (SDCN), which supports expat partners with professional events, career advice, and social networking in their new hometown.

Project Description

We seek outstanding postdoctoral researchers with backgrounds in computational, theoretical, and/or observational projects to develop and deploy cutting-edge machine-learning and AI methods for astrophysics and cosmology. This work will enable precision tests of fundamental physics using current and next-generation galaxy and time-domain surveys. You will work closely with teams on the Rubin Observatory LSST, Euclid, ZTF, and LS4 surveys.

Main responsibilities:

Field-level inference and simulation-based inference for cosmology.
Neural emulators / surrogate models for accelerated forward modeling.
Differentiable simulations and probabilistic programming for end-to-end pipelines.
Robust uncertainty quantification, systematics mitigation, and domain adaptation.
ML for time-domain discovery and characterization (e.g., transients, time-delay cosmography).

Environment & Collaborations

The position is supported by the Excellence Dark Universe Centre And Technology Enabler (EDUCATE), uniting researchers at Stockholm University and KTH to advance ML for dark matter and dark energy.

You will be a member of the Oskar Klein Centre (OKC), a vibrant hub of 100+ researchers in astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and particle physics with active programs in dark matter, dark energy, structure formation, transients, and multi-messenger astrophysics.

Postdocs are encouraged to lead visible research projects in major international collaborations and contribute to the broader scientific community through innovative methodology development, survey data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Postdocs may also participate in Nordita scientific programs and join the Aquila Consortium (an international collaboration on ML and data science for cosmic structure) as well as the Learning the Universe initiative, collaborating with institutions such as Columbia University, LBNL, Harvard, Flatiron Institute, Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, Université de Montréal, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, and MPA Garching.

Qualification Requirements

Applicants must hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent relevant degree from another country, completed no later than when the employment decision is made.

Assessment criteria:

Doctoral degree obtained within the last three years is preferred; older degrees may be considered under special circumstances (e.g., parental leave, clinical service, or relevant assignments).
Strong research skills in astrophysics and cosmology, programming, and machine learning.
Fluency in spoken and written English.

About the Employment

Type: Temporary postdoctoral position
Duration: Maximum of 2 years, with possibility of extension under special circumstances
Start date: ASAP or as agreed (funding available immediately)
Scope: Full-time, 100%
Salary: Individual salary setting

Stockholm University provides a dynamic, international, and creative work environment located within the National City Park, with good transport links. The university strives to be free from discrimination and provide equal opportunities for all.

Contact

Prof. Jens Jasche – Phone: +46 8 553 780 37, Email: jens.jasche@fysik.su.se
Prof. Ariel Goobar (OKC director and PI of EDUCATE) – Phone: +46 8 553 78659, Email: ariel@fysik.su.se

Application

Applications should be submitted via Stockholm University’s recruitment system. Attach a personal letter, CV, and all requested documents as specified in the application form. Applicants are responsible for ensuring completeness.

Number of positions: 2
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Reference number: SU FV-3414-25
Published: 23 September 2025
Last application date: 19 December 2025

Union representatives: