Faculty Position(s) at the Institute of Astrophysics (IA), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Job Summary

Category: Tenure and Tenure-track Faculty Positions

Institution: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC)

Department: Institute of Astrophysics

Number of Positions Available: 1

Work Arrangement: See Job Description

Job Description

The Institute of Astrophysics (IA) at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in Astronomical Instrumentation and Experimental Astrophysics.

We seek candidates with a Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, engineering, or a related field, who will build a research program centered on instrumentation, experimental techniques, astroinformatics or enabling technologies for astronomy and astrophysics. The search is open to all areas of the field, including optical/infrared/radio/mm-wave instrumentation, detector development, astronomical software and data systems, calibration techniques, autonomous/robotic observing systems, aerospace and satellite applications, remote sensing, and HPC/AI for instrumentation. Research programs with synergies to current and future facilities in Chile, such as the Simons Observatory, are especially encouraged.

The successful candidate will join the IA and the UC Astro-Engineering Center (AIUC), an interdisciplinary center for instrumentation and technology development, and will be expected to build collaborations with observatories, industry, and government partners — particularly those that leverage Chile’s astronomical infrastructure and emerging national aerospace and satellite initiatives.

The Institute hosts a dynamic international community of 16 faculty, ~60 graduate students, and 15+ postdocs working across cosmology, galactic and extragalactic astronomy, stellar astrophysics, astrochemistry, exoplanets, instrumentation, high-energy and theoretical astrophysics. The Institute occupies a newly renovated building with an active visitor program, weekly seminars, colloquia, and daily astro-ph discussions, and is part of the French-Chilean Laboratory for Astronomy (FCLA).

Faculty have access to Chile’s 10% of the observing time at VLT, Gemini, Magellan, CTIO, SOAR, APEX, and ALMA, as well as Rubin data plus future access to  CTAO, ELT, Simons Observatory, and GMT — along with AIUC’s labs, engineering expertise, and on-site HPC resources.

Teaching duties include undergraduate and graduate courses in astrophysics and instrumentation, and mentoring students toward careers in astronomy, observatory operations, instrumentation, and high-technology sectors. Candidates should be able to teach in Spanish and/or English within approximately one year; Spanish fluency is not required at the time of application.

Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, short statements of research interests and teaching philosophy, and the names of three referees whom we may contact for reference letters using this form by October 15th, 2026. Late applications may be considered until the positions are filled. Further information about the Institute of Astrophysics can be obtained here or directly from Prof. Felipe Barrientos.

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile is committed to equal opportunity and diversity in its workforce, including but not limited to religious freedom. The University is actively engaged in promoting gender equality.

Application Details

Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, short statements of research interests and teaching philosophy, and the names of three referees whom we may contact for reference letters using the form in the add by October 15th, 2026. Late applications may be considered until the positions are filled. Further information about the Institute of Astrophysics can be obtained here or directly from Prof. Felipe Barrientos.

Link to Online Application: https://form.jotform.com/261754150542655

Publication Start Date: 2026 Aug 17

Application Deadline: 2026 Oct 15

Inquiries: Felipe Barrientos, felipe.barrientos@uc.cl