Postdoctoral Position in Galaxy Structure

Applications are invited for a postoctoral position in the Department of Astronomy at Case Western Reserve University. The successful applicant will work with Dr Heather Morrison on observational studies of the structure and evolution of galaxies, in particular by using deep CCD surface photometry. Interest and strengths in galactic structure and galaxy formation are desirable.

Technical skills that will be very useful include statistics, some hands-on programming and stellar PSF-fitting photometry. The successful applicant will have access to CWRU's Burrell Schmidt telescope on Kitt Peak, which now has a SITe back-illuminated 2048x4096 CCD with a 1.3 square degree field.

A PhD in astronomy or a closely related field is required. The position is available for one year with a possible extension for a second year, depending on performance. The starting date will be between July and September 1999. Applicants should provide a curriculum vitae, list of publications and a summary of research interests, and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent by December 15, 1998 to Dr H. Morrison at the above address. Applications from women and minorities are particularly encouraged. AAE/EOE.

Research Project

The postdoctoral fellowship is funded by an NSF grant to investigate the structure and evolution of nearby galaxies using deep CCD surface photometry. Using the wide field of the Burrell Schmidt CCD system, and new techniques of flat-fielding and data analysis, we can reach several magnitudes fainter than previous work. (Compare the above image with the Hubble atlas image of NGC 891.) The aim of this project is to study the luminous components of these galaxies (disks and bulges) but, most importantly, to study the structure of the faint outer stellar components such as thick disks and halos. In the Milky Way these are the oldest stellar populations; they may hold the key to the early formation of these galaxies, and may also help trace their merger histories.

Questions we aim to answer in this work include:

If you are interested in learning more about this project, here is a recent preprint on galaxy halos and thick disks and another one specifically on NGC 3115.

Astronomy at CWRU

The Department of Astronomy at CWRU is small but active. Current faculty members consist of:

CWRU Astronomy owns and operates the Burrell Schmidt telescope on Kitt Peak. As well as the deep surface photometry project, current CWRU projects include surveys for galactic halo stars to identify how much of the Milky way halo may have been accreted from small galaxies like the Sgr dwarf, and imaging of galaxy clusters to detect light from intracluster stars. We are also in the process of converting our local 36" telescope to fully robotic spectroscopic mode.

Note that there is also a position available in theoretical astrophysics in the Department of Astronomy.

The CWRU Department of Physics also has an active research interest in the fields of cosmology and particle astrophysics; interaction between our departments is good, and collaborative opportunities exist there.

For more details, see


Questions?

For more details on the postdoctoral position, contact Heather Morrison at heather@vegemite.astr.cwru.edu.


 Also .......

CWRU astronomy department is a good place to work on teaching innovations, because of our small class sizes and faculty interest in teaching. If you are interested in teaching as well as research, you may want to consider applying to the NSF PFSMETE program, working with Heather Morrison as a mentor. Email Heather Morrison at heather@vegemite.astr.cwru.edu for more information.