Postdoctoral Scholar, Physics

One-year postdoctoral position in complex plasma physics, renewable for a second year subject to satisfactory performance and institutional approval, starting in October 2026.

About the role

The successful candidate will join Dr. Surabhi Jaiswal’s research group, focusing on dust-plasma interaction under a high magnetic field environment. The role involves conducting experiments at a multiuser facility, performing data analysis, and running molecular dynamic simulations of magnetized dusty plasma.

Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory experiments at the Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory, a premier plasma science multiuser research facility
• Develop, run, and analyze data using Python and molecular dynamics simulations using open-source code LAMMPS
• Publish research results in peer-reviewed journals
• Present findings at scientific conferences

Requirements

• PhD in plasma physics or a closely related field
• Experience running molecular dynamic simulations and data analysis
• Proficiency in Python and MATLAB programming
• Demonstrated record of publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Doctoral degree completed within the five years immediately preceding the first date of appointment as a postdoctoral fellow at the University
• No previous positions held in the professional ranks

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience related to dusty plasma experiments and simulations
• Knowledge of image analysis techniques

Pay

$63,480 per year.

About the department

The Department of Physics at the University of Nevada, Reno houses around 20 tenure-track and research faculty, 5 teaching faculty, and around 40 PhD students. The undergraduate program offers a physics major and an astronomy minor. Research areas include:

• Astrophysics: black hole accretion, relativistic jets, multi-wavelength astronomy, and laboratory astrophysics experiments in photoionized plasmas and warm dense matter
• Access to the 0.7 meter Great Basin Observatory in Great Basin National Park (an International Dark Sky Park)
• Access to UNR’s high-performance computing cluster Pronghorn

The department maintains close ties with the Nevada Center for Astrophysics in Las Vegas, comprising 17 tenure-track research faculty with expertise spanning stars, exoplanets, and multi-messenger astronomy.