Astrophysicist (Post Doctoral Research Fellow), IS-1330-11

Application Deadline: 20 May 2026

Department: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Cambridge, MA

Compensation: $84,579 - $109,959 / year

Description

OPENING DATE: May 15, 2026
CLOSING DATE: May 20, 2026
SERIES/GRADE: IS-1330-11
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust (Non-Federal) Temporary, Not To Exceed One year 
DIVISION: Optical and Infrared Astronomy
LOCATION: Cambridge, MA
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This position is open to all eligible candidates.

This position is eligible for visa sponsorship.
What are Trust Fund Positions?Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care). 
Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
• Complete a Probationary Period if applicable. 
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 

OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support.  Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants. 

SUMMARY
This is the position of Astrophysicist (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow) in the Optical and Infrared Division / AstroAI. The purpose of this position is to train postdoctoral researchers to conceive, plan, and conduct highly specialized research in astrophysics and artificial intelligence, with a focus on exoplanet atmospheric characterization. The incumbent will be expected to perform scholarly research and participate in making contributions to the field of physical science. The incumbent will contribute to the Sloan-funded project Finding Life in the Universe with AI by supporting development of a differentiable retrieval framework for exoplanet atmospheres that combines a differentiable forward model, gradient-based probabilistic inference, and differential rendering methods.

MAJOR DUTIES

1.    Conduct a program of research and scholarship in the area of differentiable retrieval methods for exoplanet atmospheres under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator. This work will include development of scalable methods for atmospheric retrieval across expanding molecular libraries.2.    Assist in the development of software and analytical procedures for the modeling, reduction, analysis, and interpretation of synthetic and observed exoplanet spectra, including implementation of differentiable forward models, Hamiltonian Monte Carlo methods, and differential rendering approaches.3.    Engage in the dissemination of research results by preparing papers for publication in scientific journals and presenting findings at scientific meetings and conferences, as required.4.    Support, as required, the development of proposals for research funding and related project materials.5.    Engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the AstroAI group, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and collaborating institutions including MIT and Northeastern University.
6. Mentor and assist junior researchers and summer students involved in projected related tasks as appropriate.  

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Basic Requirements: A. Degree: in one or a combination of astronomy, physics, mathematics, space science, or electronics. The course work must have included differential and integral calculus and 12 semester hours in astronomy and/or physics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience -- at least 30 semester hours of courses equivalent to a major in any combination of astronomy, space science, physics, mathematics, and electronics, with required course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Additional Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must also possess one of the following:
A. Master's or equivalent graduate degree;
OR
B. Minimum of one year specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 9 in the normal line of progression for this occupation.  Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position such as such as demonstrated proficiency in AI-driven astronomy, with particular focus on generative models for astronomical data.

OrC. Combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience equivalent to the above.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:

• Knowledge of the technical methods, principles, and practices of astrophysics, scientific machine learning, and computational modeling applicable to exoplanet atmospheric retrieval. 
• Knowledge of data analysis, probabilistic inference, and numerical optimization techniques applicable to the modeling and interpretation of astronomical spectra.Ability to utilize advanced computational methods and computer technology in the solution of scientific problems.
• Ability to perform independent scientific research as evidenced by receipt of a Ph.D. in astrophysics, physics, computer science, applied mathematics, or a closely related field.
• Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary research group or scientific team spanning astrophysics, spectroscopy, and AI.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package. Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.  Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery." 
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.  

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact hr@cfa.harvard.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit the SAO website at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/