The Australian National University (ANU) is hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow or Research Fellow in its Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) at Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra. The ANU postdoctoral fellow astronomy and astrophysics job focuses on laser guide star adaptive optics, pays AUD 91,546 to 141,317 a year (Academic Level A or B) plus 17% superannuation, and runs full time on a fixed term of up to three years. Applications close on 22 November 2026 at 11:55pm Canberra time.
The work is instrument building for two named projects: the ULTIMATE Ground Layer Adaptive Optics (GLAO) system for the Subaru Telescope and the Laser Tomography Adaptive Optics (LTAO) system for the Giant Magellan Telescope. You need a PhD in physics, astronomy, engineering or a related field and hands-on expertise in areas such as wavefront sensing or real-time computing. The application is a selection criteria statement plus a CV with three referees, and ANU warns that applications that skip the criteria may not be considered. This guide explains each part.
ANU astronomy postdoc at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Job title | Postdoctoral Fellow / Research Fellow, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
| Employer | The Australian National University |
| Location | Mount Stromlo Observatory, Canberra, ACT |
| Level | Academic Level A (Postdoctoral Fellow) or Level B (Research Fellow) |
| Salary | AUD 91,546 to 141,317 per year, plus 17% superannuation |
| Contract | Full time, fixed term up to 3 years |
| Research area | Laser guide star adaptive optics and instrumentation |
| Projects | ULTIMATE GLAO for Subaru; LTAO for the Giant Magellan Telescope |
| Documents | Selection criteria statement; CV with at least three referees |
| Contact | Dr Noelia Martinez Rey, ARC DECRA Fellow, noelia.martinezrey@anu.edu.au |
| Published | 23 October 2026 |
| Deadline | 22 November 2026, 11:55pm Canberra time |
What the postdoc will do
The advert describes a research and instrumentation role. You will work on design, integration and testing of adaptive optics systems for two large telescopes:
- ULTIMATE GLAO for the Subaru Telescope, a ground layer adaptive optics system that corrects atmospheric turbulence close to the telescope over a wide field.
- LTAO for the Giant Magellan Telescope, which uses several laser guide stars to reconstruct turbulence in three dimensions.
Alongside the hardware and software work, the duties include publishing results, helping supervise students, outreach, and contributing to new research directions and external funding bids. The listing describes RSAA as a world-leading centre for astronomical research and education, and mentions the Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre (AITC), set up in 2006 as a national facility, as the school’s instrumentation hub. The advert itself does not say the post sits inside AITC, so ask the contact which team you would join.
The advert does not state a start date. Postdoc start dates are usually agreed with the successful candidate, often a few months after the offer to allow for visas and moving.
Selection criteria
ANU uses formal selection criteria, and your statement must address them one by one. Based on the advert:
| Type | Criterion |
|---|---|
| Essential | PhD in physics, astronomy, engineering or a related field |
| Essential | Expertise relevant to adaptive optics and instrumentation, for example laser guide star adaptive optics, wavefront sensing or real-time computing |
| Essential | Strong record of peer-reviewed publications and collaboration |
| Essential | Effective communication and teamwork across disciplines and institutions |
| Expected | Contribution to student supervision and engagement with the research community |
| Desirable | Experience designing, developing, fielding or operating adaptive optics systems on large telescopes |
| Desirable | Knowledge of project management and systems engineering |
The full criteria are in a separate position description linked from the listing. Use the exact wording from that document as your headings.
Salary: Level A or Level B
The advert gives one range for both levels: AUD 91,546 to 141,317 a year plus 17% superannuation. It does not split the range. In Australian universities, Level A is the postdoctoral level and Level B is the research fellow level above it, so a recent PhD graduate would expect an offer toward the lower part of the range, and someone with several years of postdoctoral experience and instrument leadership could be offered Level B.
At the bottom of the range, 17% superannuation adds about AUD 15,560 a year on top of salary. Canberra is generally cheaper to rent in than Sydney, though housing is still the largest living cost.
Visa sponsorship
The advert does not mention visa sponsorship, work rights or relocation support. It does not say Australian work rights are required either. If you are applying from overseas, email the contact (or ANU’s recruitment team through the application portal) and ask before you invest time in the statement. Preferred candidates must also complete pre-employment declarations and background checks.
How to apply for the ANU postdoctoral fellow astronomy job
- Download the position description: it is linked from the THE Unijobs listing and holds the full selection criteria.
- Write the selection criteria statement: one heading per criterion, with evidence under each.
- Update your CV: include publications, instruments and projects, and at least three referees, preferably including a current or previous supervisor.
- Apply online: use the “Apply” link on the listing. Referees can also be entered in the online form.
- Upload other documents only if asked: the advert mentions “other documents, if required”.
- Submit before 22 November 2026, 11:55pm Canberra time: Canberra is on daylight saving time (UTC+11) in November, so that is 12:55pm GMT the same day.
How to write the selection criteria statement
This is the document that decides the shortlist. Aim for two to four pages.
- Use the criteria as headings, in the order they appear.
- Under each, give one or two specific examples: the system, your role, what you built, what it achieved.
- For the adaptive optics criterion, name the instruments or test benches you have worked on, the wavefront sensors (for example Shack-Hartmann or pyramid), and any real-time control software you wrote.
- For publications, cite your three most relevant papers and mention collaborations with observatories or instrument consortia.
- For the desirable criteria, be honest. Partial experience described clearly is better than a vague claim.
A sample opening for the statement, for illustration only: “My PhD and first postdoc focused on wavefront sensing for laser guide star systems. I designed and tested the real-time reconstructor for a tomographic adaptive optics bench, and I would apply that experience to the LTAO system for the Giant Magellan Telescope.”
What the selection process looks like
ANU’s academic recruitment usually follows this order: the panel shortlists against the selection criteria, holds interviews (online for overseas candidates), contacts referees, and then makes an offer. Instrument groups often ask shortlisted candidates for a short talk on their past work. After the offer, preferred candidates complete pre-employment declarations and background checks, as the advert states.
Common mistakes
- Sending only a cover letter. ANU says applications that do not address the selection criteria may not be considered.
- Writing about science results only. This is an instrument role; the panel wants hardware, software and testing experience.
- Listing fewer than three referees, or none who supervised you.
- Assuming visa support. The advert does not mention it, so ask first.
- Getting the time zone wrong. 11:55pm in Canberra on 22 November is midday GMT.
Who should apply and who shouldn’t
Apply if you have a PhD and practical adaptive optics or astronomical instrumentation experience: wavefront sensing, laser guide stars, deformable mirrors, real-time control, or optical systems engineering. Engineers with real-time computing backgrounds who have worked on telescope instruments are also a good fit.
I wouldn’t apply if your work is purely observational or theoretical astrophysics with no instrument experience; the criteria are built around building and testing systems. If you need visa sponsorship and the school confirms it cannot help, look at the comparison options below instead.
Similar postdoctoral jobs open now
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|---|---|---|---|
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| Post-doctoral Researcher, Computational Genomics | University of Helsinki, Finland | EUR 3,800 to 4,000 per month | 19 November 2026 |
| Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine | The University of Hong Kong | Competitive (not stated) | 21 November 2026 |
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About ANU and Canberra
ANU was founded in 1946 and is Australia’s national university. It is 29th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, according to ANU’s own announcement of 18 June 2026, and 77th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, as reported by the Canberra Times on 30 September 2026. The Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics is based at Mount Stromlo Observatory on the edge of Canberra.
Canberra is a smaller city than Sydney or Melbourne. Researchers often find rent more manageable, and Mount Stromlo is a short drive from the city centre. If you are earlier in your career and looking for funded research training, our guide to the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship covers a paid research placement for undergraduates.
FAQs about the ANU astronomy postdoctoral fellow job
What is the salary for the ANU postdoc in astronomy and astrophysics?
AUD 91,546 to 141,317 a year across Academic Levels A and B, plus 17% superannuation.
Does ANU sponsor visas for this postdoctoral post?
The advert does not mention visa sponsorship or work rights. Ask the contact, Dr Noelia Martinez Rey, before you apply.
What documents do I need for the ANU RSAA postdoc application?
A statement addressing the selection criteria and a current CV naming at least three referees, ideally including a current or previous supervisor.
When is the deadline for the ANU astronomy postdoc?
22 November 2026 at 11:55pm Canberra time, which is 12:55pm GMT the same day.
Sources and updates
Checked on 29 October 2026 against the Times Higher Education Unijobs listing 416906 (published 23 October 2026), ANU Reporter’s article ANU climbs in QS World University Rankings (18 June 2026), and the Canberra Times report on the THE World University Rankings 2027 (30 September 2026). The position description is linked from the listing. The start date and visa position are not published. We will update this page if the deadline changes.
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