IAC POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP X RAY BINARIES PS-2026-066

INSTITUTO DE ASTROFISICA DE CANARIAS (IAC) RESEARCH DIVISION

Organisation/Company INSTITUTO DE ASTROFISICA DE CANARIAS (IAC) RESEARCH DIVISION Research Field Astronomy » Astrophysics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 6 Jul 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The IAC (Tenerife) invites applications for ONE postdoctoral contract to work on the project linked to the line of research “ Black holes, neutron stars, white dwarfs and their local environment: multi-wavelength studies of low-mass X‑ray binaries.” The contract is funded by the project “ Accretion, ejection, and dynamical properties of X‑ray binaries: from classical to ultracompact systems ( XB‑LAB).” ( PID2024-161863NB-I00 ), led by Dr. Teo Muñoz Darias and Dr. Montserrat Armas Padilla.

Research topics at the IAC include most areas of astrophysics: Solar Physics (FS), Exoplanetary System and Solar System (SEYSS), Stellar and Interstellar Physics (FEEI), The Milky Way and The Local Group (MWLG), Formation and Evolution of Galaxies (FYEG), and Cosmology and Astroparticles (CYA‑CTA). All of these are supported by an ambitious instrumentation programme. Further information about the IAC's research programme, its Observatories and the 10.4m GTC is available at the IAC's web page:

Tasks: The successful candidate will pursue research in the following fields:

• Characterisation of the observational properties of low‑mass X‑ray binaries (LMXBs) from the analysis of X‑ray, optical and infrared photometric and spectroscopic data.
• Determination of fundamental parameters of low‑mass X‑ray binaries (LMXBs) by multi‑wavelength studies.

Particular attention will be given to applicants with experience in the field of X‑ray binaries and related objects, such as cataclytic variables.

Specific Requirements

Candidates must have an excellent research record, commensurate with the duration of their research career. They must be in possession of a Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics or Physics by the application deadline.

Applications from candidates not in possession of a Ph.D. will be rejected without further consideration.

Candidates who have obtained their doctorate at the IAC must provide accreditation of a period of complementary training at other research centres. The required period is a full continuous year or 18 accumulated months (including periods of training during the doctoral studies stage and after obtaining the Ph.D. degree, but not periods prior to the predoctoral contract at the IAC) by the application deadline. We encourage, in particular, applications by women and by members of minorities.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Research Field Astronomy » Astrophysics

Additional Information

Remuneration: The gross annual salary will be 40,313.84 Euros , with deductions of up to 20% for income tax (IRPF) and social security (dependent on the candidate's personal situation). The contract provides social security cover for spouse or de‑facto partner and children.

Extra financial support to start the contract: The present job offer includes financial support related to the incorporation of the selected candidate at the IAC. You may apply for up to 2,500 € to cover any necessary – and duly documented – relocation costs when you take up your post at any IAC workplace. These costs must fall under the following categories and must have been incurred within a period of 14 days prior to the date of commencement of the contract:

• Plane or boat ticket from your former place of residence to Tenerife (arranged by the IAC). The price of the ticket will be at the cheapest rate. Your ticket fare includes one cabin bag (56 × 40 × 25 cm, 10 kg maximum) as hand luggage, and one piece as a checked baggage (158 cm and 23 kg, maximum).
• Accommodation costs for the two weeks (13 nights).
• A per diem of 37.40 € × 14 days.

No other expenses (bus, train, taxi, etc.) shall be reimbursed. This grant is considered as taxable income and the corresponding taxes (IRPF*) will be retained.

Those researchers who, having benefited from it in the past, have not passed 12 months since the last termination of their contract at the IAC, cannot be beneficiaries of this grant. In addition, those researchers whose place of residence, at the time of their application, is Tenerife will not be able to benefit either.