Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Black Hole Explorer; BHEX

Position Description

Applications are invited for a Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Black Hole Initiative (BHI) at Harvard University and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). This is a term-limited, three-month appointment running from June 1 through August 31, 2026, with no option for renewal or extension.

The Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow will pursue research related to the Black Hole Explorer (BHEX) mission, a proposed space-based observatory designed to enable transformational horizon-scale studies of black holes. The fellow will work under the supervision of Michael Johnson (BHEX Principal Investigator) and Peter Galison (BHEX Science Teams Lead), and will be embedded within the interdisciplinary research environment of the Black Hole Initiative.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to interact and collaborate with researchers across astronomy, physics, engineering, and the history and philosophy of science, while contributing to mission-focused scientific and technical activities in support of BHEX.

All the following online application materials are requested.

• Curriculum Vitae
• Three Letters of reference

PLEASE NOTE:

Completion of the Ph.D. is required to begin a Postdoctoral Fellowship; successful candidates who have received their degree within three years of the effective start date of the fellowship must provide verification of their Ph.D.

Salary: $17,000-$19,000 total for the three-month period.

Minimum Number of References

Required:

3

Maximum Number of References Allowed: 4

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