The Department of Physics at Michigan Tech prides itself on a commitment to cutting-edge research, while simultaneously providing top-notch education for both undergraduate and graduate students through hands-on learning experiences with outstanding faculty, staff, and facilities.
Open Positions
Postdoctoral Scholar
The Gamma-Ray Astronomy group at Michigan Technological University invites applications for a postdoctoral position. We are seeking a highly qualified individual with interest and experience in astrophysics, particle physics, and astronomy in general. Particularly, we are looking for expertise in the detection of gamma and cosmic rays.
The Michigan Tech group is a founding member of the HAWC Observatory and has been involved in the analysis and interpretation of HAWC data from the beginning of its operation. We are also members of the SWGO Collaboration, which is planning the construction of a wide-field-of-view, and very high duty-cycle, ground-based gamma-ray observatory in Chile. The position will have equal components of reconstruction and scientific analysis of observatory data, and detector calibration and optimization.
Applications by researchers with experience in programming languages like C++ and Python and in gamma-ray detection techniques or water Cherenkov detector technology are particularly encouraged. The successful candidate will be based at the Michigan Tech campus in Houghton, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and will be expected to travel to collaboration meetings and for prototype tests. Research opportunities include study of gamma-ray emission from extended and point sources of TeV gamma rays such as pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants, binaries, and star forming regions. Other potential research avenues are diffuse gamma-ray emission, gamma ray emission from large structures such as the Fermi bubbles, and molecular clouds, or extra galactic phenomena like gamma-ray bursts. In this context, our group focuses on multi-messenger and multi-wavelengths astronomy.
We are actively involved in the development and application of software tools like 3ML & Gammapy, allowing us to simultaneously analyze and fit data collected with other instruments (e.g. VERITAS, Fermi, CTA). We are also in charge of the HAWC calibration system for which we are maintaining both software and hardware and contribute to the optimization of water Cherenkov detectors for the detection of gamma rays. A successful candidate will have the opportunity to analyze data from HAWC central and outer ("outrigger") array, which significantly improves the sensitivity of previous HAWC analyses, and to apply their knowledge to the planning and preparation of the SWGO in Chile.
Applications received by July 28, 2025 will be given full consideration. The anticipated starting date of the appointment is September 2025. For full application details, visit https://www.employment.mtu.edu/cw/en-us/job/493971/postdoctoral-scholar-physics. For additional information please email Prof. Petra Huentemeyer (petra@mtu.edu).
MTU is Michigan’s flagship technological university and will be a Carnegie-classified R1 institution in 2025. The university provides its graduates with an extremely high return on investment through its academic rigor and focus on experiential learning. Located near the shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula, the university provides a high standard of living. The community offers a small-town environment with outstanding four-season recreational opportunities.
MTU is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Michigan Tech is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer/educational institution. Michigan Tech’s Dual Career Program is available to assist with partner orientation to the university and community and to explore employment opportunities.