BGPhD Calls
PhD Position in Computational Heliophysics
Solar and Space Weather Group, Institute of Astronomy,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
- This PhD position is offered at the Solar and Space Weather Group, Institute
of Astronomy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
- The successful applicant will work with Assoc. Prof. Kamen Kozarev on
development and application of data processing techniques and machine/deep
learning models for the characterization and understanding of the nature of
solar eruptive transients. Specifically, he/she will analyze and model EUV
imaging observations of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and shock waves
(mostly SDO/AIA), as well as low-frequency radio interferometric observations
of thermal and non-thermal CME emission (MWA and LOFAR telescopes).
- PhD position is part of 5-year project “Modeling and ObServAtional Integrated
Investigations of Coronal Solar Eruptions” (MOSAIICS) starting in May 2020,
funded by the National Science Fund of Bulgaria; Project PI is Assoc. Prof.
Kamen Kozarev;
- This 3-year position is open until filled, with a preferable starting date in July
2020; working language is English.
- PhD fees fully covered and a very competitive stipend of approximately
€920/month (tax-free) provided for EU-citizens (Average salary in Bulgaria is
€600/month, pre-tax). Separate travel funding will be provided as well.
Representative numbers for the cost of living can be found at
https://bit.ly/2TRohMp;
Requirements:
Master’s degree in Physics/Astrophysics/Data Science or related discipline;
demonstrated interest in computational astrophysics/heliophysics, space
weather, and machine/deep learning; great writing and communication skills in
English;
Previous experience and publications in scientific programming and
visualization, especially with Python (SunPy, Pandas, Numpy, Matplotlib, etc.),
Linux/Unix environments, version control, machine/deep learning (Torch,
Keras, Tensorflow), high-performance computing, and/or data science will be
considered an advantage.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should contact Dr. Kamen Kozarev (kkozarev @
astro.bas.bg), arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to him,
and provide a curriculum vitae, a cover letter describing their experience and
interests, and a list of publications (where available). Qualifying applicants will
be interviewed and sit an entrance exam (written and oral), which can be taken
remotely.
Additional Information:
- The overall goal of the MOSAIICS project is to adopt an integrated approach
providing a deeper understanding of the plasma processes leading to charged
particle acceleration by CMEs near the Sun. The project’s high level objectives
are to (i) develop and integrate novel image processing and machine learning
techniques to reliably analyze radio and EUV remote imaging observations of
CMEs and their shocks; (ii) investigate the origins and evolution of radio
emission from energetic electron beams in CMEs, comparing with in situ
measurements; (iii) develop and apply advanced global data-driven models of
particle acceleration and transport to test and improve our theoretical
understanding of SEP production and transport.
- Recently, the Institute of Astronomy has installed a new 192-core server
cluster, and is adding a multi-GPU server node for advanced computations
dedicated to the MOSAIICS project. Supercomputer time on BAS-owned and
operated systems is also available.
- The Institute of Astronomy is a leader in astrophysical research in Bulgaria
and Southeast Europe. It hosts over 40 researchers working in several areas
of astrophysics, namely solar activity and solar system small bodies, stars and
stellar systems, galaxies and cosmology. Additionally, IANAO staff have strong
expertise in operating and maintaining the National Observatory Rozhen - a
dedicated facility in the Rhodopi mountains with a flagship 2-meter reflective
optical telescope, as well as a number of smaller research-grade telescopes.
For more information, visit http://astro.bas.bg.
