Senior Researcher
Overview
The Department of Physics at the University of Oxford offers a full-time, fixed-term position for a Senior Researcher in Technosignature Research within the Breakthrough Listen programme. Based at the Denys Wilkinson Building in Oxford, this role focuses on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and involves radio astronomy, signal processing, machine learning, and large-scale data analysis. The successful applicant will direct research strategies, lead a dedicated research group, oversee advanced technical computing infrastructure in the SKA Lab, and represent the programme internationally.
Requirements
Applicants must hold a PhD or DPhil and possess scientific and technical expertise comparable to a senior academic. Candidates need substantial experience in strategy development, staff recruitment and management, budget oversight, funding acquisition, and scientific publishing. Strong communication and interpersonal abilities are necessary for managing relationships with international stakeholders, funders, policymakers, and early-career researchers.
How to apply
Applications require a curriculum vitae, a supporting statement, and the contact details of two referees. Referees must submit their recommendation letters directly to the designated email address by the application deadline.
Key dates
The closing date for applications is 12 PM on Monday, 9 November 2026. The initial contract duration is two years, with the possibility of an extension.
About University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. Teaching there is documented from the late eleventh century, which makes it one of the oldest universities in the world, although its exact founding date is unknown. It has no single central campus, and its buildings are spread throughout the city. Every student belongs to a college, and the colleges operate alongside the university's academic departments, which are grouped into divisions.
Source: Wikipedia