Postdoctoral Fellow in AI-Driven Rare Events in Particle Physics and Astronomy

Postdoctoral Fellow in AI-Driven Search for Rare Events in Particle Physics and Astronomy University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of New Mexico (UNM) invites applications for one Postdoctoral/Research Scientist position to contribute to a DOE-funded GENESIS research program applying artificial intelligence and machine learning across several domains of physics and astronomy. The successful candidates will develop an integrated image-processing pipeline and apply it to three distinct problems: rare-event searches in particle detectors (e.g. the Migdal effect and neutrino-less double beta decay), component separation in images of strong gravitational lenses, and transient identification in interferometric radio astronomy.

The positions offer an unusual opportunity to develop methods that generalize across experimental particle physics, cosmology, and radio astronomy. The selected scientist(s) will be working with a multidisciplinary team at the University of New Mexico including Prof. Dinesh Loomba (PI), Prof. Francis-Yan Cyr-Racine, Prof. Huaiyu Duan, Prof. Greg Taylor, and Research Professor Jayce Dowell, together with Dr. Ralph Massarczyk at LANL.

The Research Fellow will design and develop an integrated, cross-domain image-processing pipeline in collaboration with researchers in experimental particle physics, cosmology, and radio astronomy.

Applicants must hold a PhD in physics, astronomy, computer science, or a closely related field by the start date, and demonstrate strong expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and image processing. Prior postdoctoral or equivalent research experience is preferred.

The positions carry a very competitive salary and offer the option of remote work with monthly visits to UNM (subject to approval by UNM). The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance and continued funding.

The University of New Mexico is an equal opportunity employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.