Postdoctoral Scholar - Space Sciences Laboratory - UC Berkeley

Position overview

Salary range :

The UC postdoc salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position : https : / / www.ucop.edu / academic-personnel-programs / _files / 2025-26 / represented-oct-2025-scales / t23.pdf A reasonable estimate for this position is $70,902-$79,014.

Percent time : 100

Anticipated start : Spring 2026

Position duration :

2 years with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date : September 12, 2025

Next review date : Monday, Oct 13, 2025 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date : Monday, Jan 5, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

We are seeking a postdoctoral scholar for the NSF ATI-funded project, "Advancing Adaptive Optics into the Visible for Black Hole Science." The scholar will be supervised and mentored by Prof. Jessica Lu at UC Berkeley and will also collaborate with Dr. Antonin Bouchez at the W.M. Keck Observatory.

The postdoc will perform an in-depth study of the adaptive optics (AO) wavefront error budget both for the current laser-guide star AO systems at Keck and for a future visible-light AO system on the Keck I telescope. This study includes use of analytic error budgets and high-fidelity wave-optics simulation of the telescope, AO system, and instrument. This "digital twin" of the Keck I AO system will be used to evaluate the impact of optical and calibration errors of the current system and compared, in detail, to on-bench and on-sky telemetry for a deeper understanding of residual wavefront errors and delivered AO performance. Responsibilities include designing experiments, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, running simulations, drafting and disseminating results, and designing publicly available web tools based on the techniques and results from the research project.

The postdoc will conduct work both at UC Berkeley and at Keck Observatory for extended periods of time. The exact duration of work at each location is negotiable.

The postdoc will work with both the Keck Observatory AO team and with the UC Berkeley Moving Universe Lab team. These teams include experts in adaptive optics, opto-mechanics, high-speed detectors, real-time control computing, hardware and software, high-performance computing, and data science. The postdoc will have access to lab space at UC Berkeley and Keck Observatory headquarters and will actively work with the Keck AO systems.

Department : https : / / www.ssl.berkeley.edu /

Lab : https : / / keckobservatory.org /

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

(required at time of application)

PhD (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a PhD (or equivalent international degree) program

Additional qualifications

(required at time of start)

• PhD or equivalent international degree
• No more than 3-years post PhD research experience

Preferred qualifications

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Research Statement - Please discuss research accomplishments and proposed plans. This can include, for example, your publication record, awards, presentations, inclusive research practices that promote the excellence of your research, and areas for future research.

Reference requirements

Apply link :

https : / / aprecruit.berkeley.edu / JPF05060

Help contact : kimking@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d ). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community , which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy .

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and / or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

Job location

Berkeley, CA