The Department of Astronomy and the Harvard College Observatory (HCO), within the Center for Astrophysics (CfA), invites applications for the Donald H. Menzel Postdoctoral Position in astrophysics. Candidates with an exceptional record of research in any field of astrophysics, particularly theory, are encouraged to apply.

The CfA combines the resources and research facilities of the Harvard College Observatory and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory under a single director. Now organized in six research divisions--Atomic and Molecular Physics; High Energy Astrophysics; Optical and Infrared Astronomy; Radio and Geoastronomy; Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Sciences; and Theoretical Astrophysics--nearly 350 Smithsonian and Harvard scientists work cooperatively in an environment that welcomes the ideas and contributions of young scientists

The facilities include the MMT (Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, Arizona), Magellan (Las Campanas Observatory, Chile), and other optical and infrared telescopes; radio telescopes, especially the Submillimeter Array on Mauna Kea, Hawaii; a large Beowulf cluster and network of workstations; a number of specialized laboratories; an outstanding library system; and access to data from a wide range of space missions, especially the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope.

A list of previous Menzel Fellows is available.

Appointments are for one year, with renewal for a second and third year likely, contingent upon satisfactory progress. The salary, including health benefits, and research budget for the appointee will be approximately $60,500 with a research budget of $16,000. Funds are available for relocation expenses. Only applicants who received their Ph.d. on or after January 1, 2008 will be considered.