Assistant or Associate Professor in Observational Astronomy

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on

Job Description - Assistant or Associate Professor in Observational Astronomy )

Job Description

Assistant or Associate Professor in Observational Astronomy (

Job Number:

)

Department of Physics

Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time

Closing Date

28-Sep-2026, 10:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement : Not Applicable.

Working at Durham University

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As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.

Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential.

We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what the identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here .

The Department

The Physics Department at Durham is one of the largest in the UK and a vibrant centre for world leading research and education.

A World Top 100 department in the 2025 QS subject rankings, our research spans advanced instrumentation, astronomy and astrophysics, condensed matter physics, cosmology, particle physics and quantum physics. It has real world impact, informing developments in energy storage, improved cancer imaging, quantum computing, nuclear fusion, pandemic modelling and faster digital technologies. We pride ourselves on closely aligning our teaching with the University’s research intensive ethos. Research led learning is embedded at every stage of our undergraduate programmes—from first year laboratory reports to our flagship final year MPhys individual research projects—ensuring our students develop the skills and insight needed for future roles in STEM.

The Department incorporates the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics and is home to the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology and the Institute for Computational Cosmology.

The Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy (CEA) is one of the largest groups of observational astronomers in Europe with 21 academic staff full or associate members. We deliver world-leading research across the full electromagnetic spectrum from radio to gamma-rays as well as multimessenger astronomy with gravitational wave and neutrino detection. Durham University is involved in the BlackGEM, LSST, Euclid, DESI, 4MOST, SKAO and CTAO projects with leadership in the construction, survey definition, execution and exploitation in these projects. We are also project partners in the BlueMUSE project on the VLT and the MOSAIC and HARMONI instrument projects for the ELT.

The CEA benefits from our deep, intertwined links to the Institute for Computational Cosmology (ICC), drawing on their world-leading expertise in simulations and high performance computing, the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI), with their international leadership in instrument development and new techniques, and the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP), bringing their expertise in potential Dark Matter particle properties, neutrino experiments and gravitational wave progenitors. Together, these groups are housed in the purpose-built Ogden Centre East and the architecturally award-winning Ogden Centre West.

The Position

The Department of Physics at Durham University seeks to appoint a talented individual to the role of Assistant or Associate Professor, in the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy (CEA). We welcome applications from those with research interests in the field of observational astronomy and the exploitation of large survey datasets. Applications are particularly encouraged from candidates with a background in radio or sub-mm interferometry to expand Durham's involvement in the SKAO. However, applications will be considered in any area that complements the CEA’s current research interests.

The post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of internationally excellent research and teaching while allowing you unrivalled opportunities to progress and embed your career in an exciting and progressive institution. For more information, please visit our Department pages at and the webpage of the CEA

Assistant and Associate Professors at Durham

The University is committed to enabling all of our colleagues to achieve their full potential. We promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment to ensure that all colleagues can thrive. Academic colleagues are supported to publish world-class research in their area of interest with a focus on quality in high impact journals, rather than quantity. We will fully support your research needs including practical, help such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activity, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor. Sitting alongside world class research; teaching quality and innovation is critical to ensure a first class learning environment and curricula for all of our students. You will be supported to develop your teaching expertise and to engage in teaching innovation to embed our student experience.

All of our Assistant and Associate Professors on the Education and Research track are encouraged to focus on research and teaching while also engaging in wider citizenship activities that enhance their own professional development, support the Department and wider discipline, and contribute to an outstanding student experience.

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of computational cosmology or astrophysics with the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. The University provides a working and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.

We are confident that our recruitment process allows us to attract and select the best international talent to Durham. We therefore offer a reduced probation period of 1 year for our Assistant and Associate Professors and thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance, you will be confirmed in post.

The role is full-time, but we will consider requests for flexible working arrangements including potential job shares.

• To pursue research that is high quality in terms of originality, significance and rigour, commensurate with the Department's continuing emphasis on international excellence.
• To develop clear plans for the pursuit of suitable national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement.
• To play a role in relevant teaching and research supervision, and contribute to ongoing curriculum development.
• Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment in the Department, the wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity, especially in the area of collaborative simulation code development and planning.
• Demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the administrative work, citizenship and values of the Department.
• To deliver lectures, seminars and tutorials at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels, with the opportunity to teach more widely within the Department, as well as engaging in related activity such as assessment.
• To fully engage in and enhance the values of the Department.
• To contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and to enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and international postgraduate culture.
• Carry out other duties as specified by the Head of Department.

Key responsibilities - Associate Professor (Grade 9):

To pursue research that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour, commensurate with the Department’s continuing emphasis on international excellence.

To be making significant contributions to the development of successful research project/ fellowship proposals in pursuit of suitable national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement.

Deliver excellent teaching offering lectures, seminars and tutorials at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels. Contribute significantly to the development and delivery of high-quality teaching, including the design of excellent learning environments and curricula.

Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment in the Department, the wider University and beyond. Contribute to establishing and leading research groups within and beyond the University, and engaging in the mentoring of early career researchers.

Attracting and providing excellent supervision to research students, and to enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and international postgraduate culture.

Contribute significantly to the administrative functioning and collegial environment of the Department and wider University, undertaking leadership activities which support the functioning of the Department and wider University.

To fully engage in, champion and enhance the values of the Department.

Carry out such other duties as specified by the Head of Department.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Person Specification

Candidates will have completed their PhD (or be close to completion) and should outline their experience, skills and achievements to date, which demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria.

Research

Candidates must have the capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high-quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world-class or that has world-class potential.

Essential Research Criteria - Assistant Professor (Grade 8):

1. Qualifications –- a good first degree and a PhD (or close to completion at the time of application) inPhysics or a related subject.

2. Outputs – evidence of high-quality outputs, some of which are recognised as internationally excellent or world-class.Candidates are asked to submittwo research papers with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below). Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.

3. Personal Research Plan – evidence of a personal research plan which supports and enhances theDepartment’s and CEA research strategy. The research plan may be used to demonstrate a commitment to contributing to future large surveys and instrument projects that Durham has involvement in, e.g. LSST, DESI, 4MOST, LOFAR, SKAO and CTAO and the VLT-BlueMUSE, ELT-MOSAIC and ELT-HARMONI instruments.

4. Income or resource generation - evidence of engagement in the development of successful research projects and quality research proposals for grant income generation and/or resource allocation such as computer time, commensurate with career stage.

1. Qualifications - a good first degree and a PhD inPhysics or a related subject.

2. Outputs - evidence of outputs that are consistently recognised as internationally excellent, with at least one output regarded as world class.Candidates are asked to submittworesearch papers with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below). Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.

3. Personal Research Plan - evidence of a personal research plan which supports and enhances the Department’s and ICC research strategy. The research plan may be used to demonstrate a commitment to contributing to new generations of cosmological simulations.

4. Research Leadership - contribution to the leadership of research groups and the mentoring of early career researchers. (Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to external events, engagement with international networks or projects).

5. PhD Supervision - involvement in the provision of excellent supervision for PhD students.

6. Research Impact - demonstrable evidence of the impact of the Candidate's research beyond their institution.

7. Income or Resource Generation - significant evidence of engagement in the development of successful research projects and quality research grant/resource proposals commensurate with career stage.

8. International Standing - evidence of an established international reputation appropriate to career stage through invited presentations, editorial activity, leadership roles, service to the discipline, or comparable indicators of esteem.

Education

Candidates must demonstrate significant contribution to the development and delivery of high-quality teaching with a demonstrable contribution to the design of excellent learning environments & curricula, including curriculum development, that enable students to achieve their potential.

1. Qualification - candidates must be or have the ability to attain the rank of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy ( which is the national body that champions teaching excellence (or Equivalent).

2. Quality – evidence of the development and delivery of effective and engaging teaching. (Candidates may choose to provide student evaluation scores and/or peer reviews of teaching).

3. Innovation – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate your contribution to new programme development and innovation in the design and delivery of high-quality teaching and assessment of learning. This can include lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment.

4. Strategic – evidence of strategic teaching development, or achievements that demonstrate the potential to engage in the design of excellent teaching programmes which are research informed and led.

1. Qualification - candidates must be or have the ability to attain the rank of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy ( which is the national body that champions teaching excellence (or Equivalent).

2. Quality - making a significant contribution to the development and delivery of high-quality teaching at a nationally competitive level. Contribution to training, educating and mentoring other teachers in the department and/or the University in relationship to learning and teaching. (Candidates may choose to provide student evaluation scores and/or peer reviews of teaching).

3. Innovation – evidence of successful new programme development and innovate in the teaching methods for the design / delivery of high-quality teaching at a nationally competitive level including lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment.

4. Strategic - significant contribution to the design and deliver of excellent teaching activities and the creation of learning envrionments that enable students to achieve their potential.

Service, Citizenship and Values

Active engagement in administrative and citizenship requirements and to fostering a respectful environment, including the active contribution to the creation of a welcoming environment in which colleagues feel included and valued.

Essential Services, Citizenship and Values Criteria - Assistant Professor (Grade 8):

1. Citizenship contribution – evidence of participation in the citizenship/administrative activities of an academic Department, Faculty or University.(Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, mentoring activity, pastoral and academic support of students, engagement with widening participation, carrying out departmental and interdepartmental activities effectively. Being involved in departmental activities such as open days, employability events, departmental meetings and committees and membership or engagement with external bodies).

2. Leadership – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate engagement in activities that contribute to the administrative functioning of an academic Department, Faculty, University and/or discipline, including leadership or responsibilities in an academic context.(Candidates may choose to detail any leadership roles which they have undertaken, preferably in, but not limited to, an academic context).

3. Communication – candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.

* Essential Services, Citizenship and Values Criteria - Associate Professor (Grade 9):

1. Citizenship contribution – a significant contribution to the collegial work and environment of an academic Department, Faculty or University. (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, Faculty or University level committees or projects, mentoring activity, pastoral and academic support of students, engagement with widening participation, proactive support of the work of professional services colleagues, contributions to departmental programme management and/or strategic development and membership or engagement with external bodies).

2. Leadership - evidence of leadership roles or a significant contribution to leadership activities that support the administrative functioning of an academic Department, Faculty or University and / or which support the development of the relevant discipline. (Candidates may choose to detail any leadership roles which they have undertaken, preferably in an academic context).

3. Communication - candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.

The desirable criteria for Assistant Professor (Grade 8) (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are:

1. Research Leadership – contribution to the leadership of research groups and mentoring of early career researchers. (Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to external events, mentoring of early career researchers).

2. PhD Supervision – involvement in the provision of excellent supervision for PhD students.

3. Research Impact – demonstrable evidence of the impact of the Candidate’s research beyond their institution.

4. Income Generation – evidence of engagement in the development of successful research projects and quality research grant proposals.

5. Research software development - evidence of development of open source or otherwise collaborative software bases relevant for performing or analysing simulations.

The desirable criteria for Associate Professor (Grade 9) (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are:

1. Successful observational projects - evidence of leadership in projects using observational projects from survey or open access time facilities across all wavelengths or techniques.

2. Organisation of international conferences or workshops.

3. Contributions to national or international research strategy.

Contact Information

Department contact for academic-related enquiries: Professor Alastair Edge,

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application: If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to (we will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays). Alternatively, you may call from the UK, or from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process: We prefer to receive applications online. Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

Referees: You should provide 3 academic referees. They should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s). The majority should be from a university other than your own (save for early career applicants applying for their first post). Please also include the details of your current line manager so that we may seek an employment reference (if they are not listed as an academic referee). References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process. As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on

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