2026 Flatiron Research Fellow Opportunities

Open
Application DeadlineOctober 31, 2026

Application deadline
October 31, 2026
Applicant notification
February 15, 2027

Information and How to Apply
Strategic Areas

Apply Now

Application deadline
October 31, 2026
Applicant notification
February 15, 2027

Please send inquiries
about the program to [email protected]

Position Summary

Applications are invited for postdoctoral research positions as Flatiron Research Fellows (FRF) at the Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA). The CCA offers FRFs the opportunity for independent research in areas that have strong synergy with the CCA or other centers at the Flatiron Institute.

The mission of the Flatiron Institute is to advance scientific knowledge through computational methods, including data analysis, theory, modeling, and simulation. It currently houses five centers, focused on computational astrophysics (CCA), biology (CCB), mathematics (CCM), neuroscience (CCN) and quantum physics (CCQ), as well as a scientific computing core (SCC) that maintains state-of-the-art computing facilities for use by Flatiron scientists, and an initiative in computational catalysis (ICC). CCA staff frequently collaborate with members of these centers and benefit from their expertise, and joint FRF appointments can be considered if applications are submitted to two relevant centers. Within the Flatiron Institute, the CCA’s specific mission is to create, develop, and disseminate computational methods, tools, and frameworks that allow scientists to build or analyze big astronomical datasets, and to use computational and statistical techniques to understand complex, multi-scale physics in astrophysical systems ranging in scales from planets to the Universe.

Please see https://www.simonsfoundation.org/flatiron/center-for-computational-astrophysics/ for a full description of CCA research areas and scientific staff. We recommend candidates review our FAQ prior to submitting an application.

Flatiron Research Fellows are expected to carry out an active research program that is independently directed and is encouraged to involve substantial collaboration with other members of the CCA or Flatiron Institute. In addition to their own research, Fellows help build the rich scientific community at the CCA and Flatiron Institute by: participating in seminars, colloquia, and group meetings; developing their software, mathematical, and computational expertise through internal educational opportunities; and sharing their knowledge through scientific publications, presentations, and/or software releases. Flatiron Research Fellows may also have the opportunity to organize workshops and to mentor graduate and undergraduate students through the CCA Pre-Doctoral Program, the CUNY Astrophysics Masters Program, the Simons-NSBP Scholars Summer Program, and the AstroCom NYC Program. FRFs are welcome to take advantage of CCA partnerships with the Simons Observatory, the Terra Hunting Experiment, Sloan Digital Sky Survey V, Gaia, HIRAX, LIGO, and the NASA SPHEREx mission, and to participate in CCA-related software projects such as MESA, AstroPy, Entity, Dedalus, and PASTA. In addition, individual CCA research scientists have significant roles in a variety of collaborations and projects, including Learning the Universe, JWST, PRIMA, Rubin, Euclid, Roman, CAMELS, DREAMS, MESA, AstroPy, Dedalus, LIGO, LISA, and Gaia, and would welcome FRF collaborators. More details can be found on our website under “Projects” and “Software”. CCA members also maintain valuable ties with neighboring academic institutions, with many senior CCA scientists having joint faculty appointments.

The CCA welcomes any applicant who feels that their research program would thrive at the CCA. We have also identified a number of strategic areas where we would particularly welcome applicants’ participation, listed on this webpage under the “Strategic Areas” tab.

FRF positions are generally two-year appointments that can be renewed for a third year, contingent on continued performance. FRFs receive a research budget to support travel and visitors. They also have access to the Flatiron Institute’s powerful scientific computing resources, including 2 HPC clusters with a combined 180,000 cores, 600 GPUs, and 60PB of raw storage. FRFs may be eligible for subsidized housing within walking distance of the CCA. These positions will be based in our New York City offices, with anticipated start dates between late August and early October 2027.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Applicants are required to have or receive before their appointment a PhD in a related field.

Related Skills & Other requirements

Ability to do original research in astrophysics
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
Ability to present research and other types of work, internally and externally
Effective oral and written communication and data documentation
Intellectual connections to projects in which the CCA is involved (if relevant)
Expertise in technical elements of computational astrophysics research, which may include but are not limited to: algorithm and software development; application or development of computational or statistical methods; data analysis; modeling; statistics and machine learning; scientific simulation; or theoretical astrophysics.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Application Materials

The Flatiron Institute values authenticity, originality, and transparency throughout the application and hiring process. Applicants are expected to submit application materials that reflect their own original work, experiences, ideas, writing, and scientific or professional judgment. The use of AI-based tools may be appropriate for limited purposes during the hiring process, such as editing, formatting, or code review. However, application materials, including research statements, cover letters, personal statements, and other writing samples, should not be substantially authored or generated by AI systems.

Applicants are encouraged to disclose any significant or material use of AI tools in the preparation of their application materials or throughout the hiring process. The Flatiron Institute does not use AI-based tools to screen applicants.

If you require reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application process due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected].

Required Application Materials

Curriculum Vitae with bibliography (Required)
Research statement of no more than three pages (including figures but not including list of references) describing the applicant’s past work, proposed research program, and potential synergies with activities at CCA (Required)
- We encourage applicants, as a component of their research statement, to discuss their broader impact on the field, what they expect to bring to the CCA, and what they expect to gain from being at the CCA.
Three (3) letters of recommendation submitted confidentially by the letter writers via Interfolio prior to the application due date (Required)
Cover letter (optional)
- The Center for Computational Astrophysics is committed to broadening the community of scientists contributing to the field of Astrophysics. We drive innovation and collaboration by recruiting scientists from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. With this in mind, tell us who you are and what you will bring to the CCA. Applicants are invited to describe their journey into Astrophysics research in their cover letter, but this is not required.
- The cover letter should note any particular projects (or individuals) in which the applicant is particularly interested in collaboration.
Applicants should follow the detailed guidelines at https://jobregister.aas.org/postdoc-application-guidelines, except that the list of references is not included in the 3-page limit for a Research Statement
For more information about careers at the Flatiron Institute, please visit simonsfoundation.org/flatiron/careers.

Deadline: All application materials (including letters) must be received by October 31, 2026

Selection Criteria: Applicants must have a PhD in a related field or expect to receive their PhD before the start of the appointment. Applications will be evaluated based on: 1) past research accomplishments; 2) the proposed research program; 3) the synergy of applicant’s expertise and research proposal topic with existing CCA staff and research programs, and potential to cross boundaries between CCA groups and/or the Flatiron Institute’s centers.

Any queries about the application process or about CCA should be directed to [email protected]. Queries about the CCA may also be directed to any of the scientific staff at CCA.

For more information about careers at the Flatiron Institute, please visit simonsfoundation.org/flatiron/careers.

Compensation and Benefits

The full-time annual compensation for this position is $95,000.
In addition to competitive salaries, the Simons Foundation provides employees with an outstanding benefits package.

We also invite applicants to view our Flatiron Software Research Fellows (FSRFs) opportunity at the Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA). The CCA offers FSRFs the opportunity for independent scientific software development and scientific research in areas that have strong synergy with the CCA or other centers at the Flatiron Institute. Interested? Please apply here. Applications are also due by October 31st.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Our Commitment to Expanding Pathways to Science & Opportunities for All: Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds, and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to advancing basic science and mathematics to benefit humankind and expand our collective understanding of our world. As part of our mission, we support partners, programs, and initiatives that seek to broaden the scientific community and open pathways to science and mathematics careers.

The Simons Foundation provides equal opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law

Apply Now

Application deadline
October 31, 2026
Applicant notification
February 15, 2027

Please send inquiries
about the program to [email protected]

The mission of the Flatiron Institute is to advance scientific knowledge through computational methods, including data analysis, theory, modeling, and simulation. It currently houses five centers, focused on computational astrophysics (CCA), biology (CCB), mathematics (CCM), neuroscience (CCN) and quantum physics (CCQ), as well as a scientific computing core (SCC) that maintains state-of-the-art computing facilities for use by Flatiron scientists. The CCA’s mission is to create, develop, and disseminate computational methods, tools, and frameworks that allow scientists to build or analyze big astronomical datasets, and to use computational and statistical techniques to understand complex, multi-scale physics in astrophysical systems ranging in scales from planets to the Universe.

Please see https://www.simonsfoundation.org/flatiron/center-for-computational-astrophysics/ for a full description of CCA research areas and scientific staff.

Flatiron Research Fellows are expected to carry out an active research program that can be independently directed and/or involve substantial collaboration with other members of the CCA or Flatiron Institute. In addition to their own research, Fellows help build the rich scientific community at the CCA and Flatiron Institute by: participating in seminars, colloquia, and group meetings; developing their software, mathematical, and computational expertise through internal educational opportunities; and sharing their knowledge through scientific publications, presentations, and/or software releases. Flatiron Research Fellows may also have the opportunity to organize workshops and to mentor graduate and undergraduate students through the CCA Pre-Doctoral Program, the CUNY Astrophysics Masters Program, the Simons-NSBP Scholars Summer Program, and the AstroCom NYC Program. FRFs are welcome to take advantage of CCA partnerships with the Simons Observatory, the Terra Hunting Experiment, Sloan Digital Sky Survey V, Gaia, and the NASA SPHEREx mission. In addition, individual CCA research scientists have significant roles in a variety of collaborations and projects, including Learning the Universe, SIMBIG, Vera Rubin, Euclid, Roman, CAMELS, MESA, AstroPy, NANOGrav, and would welcome FRF collaborators. Many CCA scientists have joint appointments with other neighboring institutions as well.

The CCA welcomes any applicant who feels that their research program would thrive at the CCA. We have also identified a number of strategic areas where we would, particularly welcome applicants’ participation, listed under the “Strategic Areas” tab.

FRF positions are generally two-year appointments that can be renewed for a third year, contingent on performance. FRFs receive a research budget and have access to the Flatiron Institute’s powerful scientific computing resources. FRFs may be eligible for subsidized housing within walking distance of the CCA. These positions will be based in our New York City offices, with anticipated start dates between late August and early October 2023.

In addition, The Center for Computational Astrophysics at the Flatiron Institute and the Astronomy Department at Columbia University invite applications for a joint postdoctoral position. The chosen applicant for this position will conduct independent research as well as contribute to the goals of the Learning the Universe collaboration (www.learning-the-universe.org). If you are interested, please review the full job ad https://bit.ly/3D9KZpy, and indicate your interest when prompted in the Simons Foundation’s application questionnaire.

Education

Applicants are required to have a Ph.D. in a related field or, if selected, will receive their Ph.D. before the start of the FRF appointment.

Related Skills & Other Requirements

Ability to do original research in astrophysics
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
Ability to present research and other types of work, internally and externally
Effective oral and written communication and data documentation
Intellectual connections to projects in which the CCA is involved (if relevant)
Expertise in technical elements of computational astrophysics research, which may include but are not limited to: algorithm and software development; application or development of computational or statistical methods; data analysis; modeling; statistics and machine learning; scientific simulation; or theoretical astrophysics.

Application Materials:

Curriculum Vitae with bibliography (Required)
Research statement of no more than three pages (including figures and references) describing the applicant’s past work, proposed research program, and potential synergies with activities at CCA (Required)
- We encourage applicants, as a component of their research statement, to discuss their broader impact on the field, what they expect to bring to the CCA, and what they expect to gain from being at the CCA.
Three (3) letters of recommendation submitted confidentially by the letter writers to [email protected] (Required)
Cover letter (optional)
- The Center for Computational Astrophysics is committed to diversity and making the field of Astrophysics more equitable and inclusive. Applicants are invited to describe their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (whether through personal experiences or academics) in their cover letter, but this is not required.
- The cover letter should note any particular projects (or individuals) in which the applicant is particularly interested in collaboration.
Applicants should follow the detailed guidelines at https://jobregister.aas.org/postdoc-application-guidelines, except that a list of references is not required.

Deadline: All application materials (including letters) must be received by November 1, 2022.

Selection Criteria: Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a related field or expect to receive their Ph.D. before the start of the appointment. Applications will be evaluated based on: 1) past research accomplishments; 2) the proposed research program; 3) the synergy of applicant’s expertise and research proposal topic with existing CCA staff and research programs, and potential to cross boundaries between CCA groups and/or the Flatiron Institute’s centers.

Any queries about the application process or about CCA should be directed to [email protected]. Queries about the CCA may also be directed to any of the scientific staff at CCA.

THE SIMONS FOUNDATION’S DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences, and we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment. The Simons Foundation actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under federal, state and local law.

Apply Now

Application deadline
October 31, 2026
Applicant notification
February 15, 2027

Please send inquiries
about the program to [email protected]

The CCA hires broadly across many areas of astrophysics, and we welcome applications from any candidates who feel that their work would be well supported at the CCA. While we cast a wide net, in any given year there are some areas where CCA staff are particularly interested in building a community of collaborators. We have compiled this document to help potential applicants identify particularly resonant “fits” that they may wish to highlight in their application, where appropriate. However, by no means are successful applications confined to these topics. For a full list of research areas at the CCA, please review the group websites. This can be accessed by navigating to the “groups” tab at the top of CCA’s website and then clicking on your area of interest. General guidance for preparing an effective CCA application can be found at (LINK)

Stars and Plasma Astrophysics:

CCA is aiming at strengthening its leadership position in the numerical study (1D and 3D) of stellar structure and evolution, as well as stellar atmospheres.
Informed by realistic progenitor structures and pathways, develop physically-motivated models for astrophysical transients (e.g., supernovae, mergers, tidal disruption events) and their thermal and non-thermal emissions across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Understand the kinetic physics of magnetic field dissipation, particle acceleration and cosmic ray acceleration and transport.
Create realistic plasma models of black hole and neutron star magnetospheres (single and binary) and their observational manifestations.
Contact persons for 3D Stars: Matteo Cantiello, [email protected]; Daniel Lecoanet [email protected]
Contact persons for Stellar Transients: Brian Metzger, [email protected]
Contact person for Plasma Astrophysics: Lorenzo Sironi, [email protected]

Gravitational Waves:

Data analysis of individual LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA detections and populations / catalogs: development of algorithms and science exploitation.
Formation and evolution of compact object merger progenitors, particularly tied to our growing understanding of GW populations.
Constraining fundamental physics with GW observations: propagation of GWs, waveforms in modified theories of gravity, constraints on spacetime structure at high curvature, nuclear equation of state. Particularly tied to data analysis / observation of GWs.
Black hole ringdowns: theory and observations.
Cosmology with GW observations: algorithms and data analysis of existing observations.
Contact persons: Will M. Farr [email protected] and Max Isi [email protected]

Exoplanets:

Further development, testing, and application of PASTA, the CCA’s new performance portable simulation code, to problems in accretion physics or planet formation. The current working version of PASTA has capabilities that include radiation MHD with AMR, local time stepping, and a novel multi-fluid algorithm.
Contact Person: Yan-Fei Jiang, [email protected]
Observational & archival data analysis efforts in areas such as astrometric exoplanet detection with Gaia, extreme precision radial velocity science, and population-level inferences (see the Astronomical Data group priorities).
Contact Person: Megan Bedell [email protected]

Astronomical Data:

Method developments in rigorously analysing and understanding large and complex data sets.
Use of Gaia data, particularly leveraging the new epoch-level information in DR4.
Spectroscopy: The Flatiron Institute is a consortium member in SDSS-V, and the Terra Hunting Experiment. These are precision spectroscopy projects collecting large numbers of stellar spectra. Thus we have vested interests in all aspects of stellar spectroscopy: from calibration and extraction of data, to determination of stellar parameters, to mitigation of noise sources in radial-velocity measurements. We also have interests in population-level inferences from stellar abundances and radial-velocity surveys.
Contact persons: Megan Bedell ([email protected]), Andy Casey ([email protected]), Adrian Price-Whelan ([email protected])

Machine Learning X Astrophysics:

Key areas of interest in Machine Learning X Astrophysics at CCA this year:

Scientific Machine Learning: development and application of modern deep learning methods with the goals of advancing scientific knowledge in the area of astrophysics.
Agentic AI: Development and deployment of AI agents for scientific discovery
Software development and engineering in the area of scientific machine learning, differentiable programming, and probabilistic modeling in order to enable transformative science.
Contact Person: Carolina Cuesta [email protected], Shirley Ho [email protected] & Francisco Villaescusa-Navarro, [email protected],

Cosmology and Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB):

Key areas of interest in cosmology and particle astrophysics at CCA are:

Large Scale Structure: Science enabled by current/upcoming large-scale structure surveys such as DESI, Rubin, Euclid or Roman
Data Analysis: Development of novel statistical, machine learning tools in cosmology data analysis and simulations
Numerical simulations: Numerical simulations for upcoming cosmological surveys
Cosmic microwave background: Analysis of data from CMB experiments such as ACT and SO
Machine learning for Cosmology: Machine learning applied to cosmology
Contact Persons: Simone Aiola, [email protected], Carolina Cuesta [email protected], Jo Dunkley, [email protected], Shirley Ho [email protected] & Francisco Villaescusa-Navarro [email protected],

Nearby Universe:

The nature of dark matter: Using stellar streams and stellar dynamics to study the properties of dark matter within the Milky Way and Local Group.
Dynamical disequilibrium: Studying the onset and impact of disequilibrium in the evolution of dynamical systems, and developing new methods that leverage non-phase-mixed structures to make fundamental measurements about the Milky Way with large stellar surveys (SDSS-V and Gaia).
Resolved stellar populations and the ISM: Taking advantage of massive multi-wavelength data sets in the Local Group to constrain stellar evolution and the physics of the interaction of stellar populations with the ISM. There are also many opportunities to work on the challenging data side of this topic.
Numerical methods: Projects that connect to applied math and software development with possible connections to the CCM and SCC, such as accelerating and developing new tools for fast orbit and dynamical system integration (e.g., using JAX). Projects that relate to new approaches and tools for sub-percent level stellar photometry in crowded fields with space telescopes (Roman, JWST, HST, etc), and/or inference using position-velocity data (e.g., IFUs, interferometric ISM data).
Contact Person for dynamics and dark matter: Adrian Price-Whelan: [email protected]
Contact Person for resolved stellar population & ISM science: Julianne Dalcanton [email protected]

Galaxy Formation:

Developing novel methods to address the multiscale problem in galaxy formation, such as star formation and the structure of the interstellar medium in the context of cosmological simulations, ram pressure stripping and mixing, and accretion onto and feedback from supermassive black holes.
Enabling more detailed connections between models, simulations, and observations, particularly from new and upcoming facilities such as JWST, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, the PRIMA mission concept, and the Vera Rubin Telescope, and making connections between different modeling techniques and across sub-fields in Astrophysics as represented in the different groups at CCA.
Studying the physics of interstellar and intergalactic gas and plasmas and their role in galaxy evolution as a whole. This includes gas phase structure and turbulence, flows of gas and cosmic rays within and around galaxies, and the nature of the CGM around the MW and other galaxies.
Contact Person: Rachel Somerville, [email protected]