About the employer
The University of Turku has a unique, creative and inspirational work environment. Here you will work with top experts, pedagogues and researchers.
Visit the employer pageThe University of Turku has a unique, creative and inspirational work environment. Here you will work with top experts, pedagogues and researchers.
Visit the employer page
The Finnish Centre of Astronomy with ESO (FINCA) at the University of Turku invites applications for contract-based fixed term Postdoctoral Researcher position. Employment starts on mutual agreement or by September 1st 2025 at the latest.
The Finnish Centre for Astronomy with ESO (FINCA) is a national research institute that takes care of Finnish co-operation with the European Southern Observatory (ESO), practices and co-ordinates high quality astronomical research, and technological development work related to ESO; participates in researcher training; and promotes co-operation of Finnish universities in astronomy.
The successful candidate will join the Research Council of Finland -funded JetOrigin project, which is run jointly by Dr. Talvikki Hovatta at FINCA at University of Turku and by Dr. Tuomas Savolainen at the Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering and Metsähovi Radio Observatory at Aalto University.
The research concentrates on the physics of relativistic jets launched from accreting supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei (AGN). These black hole powered jets are among the most energetic long-lived phenomena in the Universe and despite their ubiquity, many of the fundamental questions regarding their physics are still open. We do not for example understand well their launching and acceleration mechanisms. With its sub-milliarcsecond resolution, very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) with radio telescopes is the only observational method that allows us to image the jet formation region. The most remarkable example of the power of this technique are the recent images by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT).
Your task is to analyze existing polarization observations conducted with the EHT in order to study magnetic fields in the plasma jets launched by supermassive black holes. You will also compare the observations with numerical simulations and theoretical models, and apply for new observations.
You will get to work in a research group that has several PhD students and postdocs and an active environment at Aalto University Metsähovi Radio Observatory. There are also many international collaborators, and an excellent possibility to network and participate in international conferences and workshops, and make research visits.
FINCA - Finnish Centre for Astronomy with ESO practises and co-ordinates Finnish high quality research in fields of astronomy with European Southern Observatory (ESO) and promotes technological development work related to ESO.
The University of Turku is an inspiring and international academic community of 25,000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. We build a sustainable future with multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. With us, your work will have a significant impact and relevance in the changing world.
Information for the applicant
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The University of Turku has a unique, creative and inspirational work environment. Here you will work with top experts, pedagogues and researchers.
Visit the employer page