We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to join a project focused on exploring the co-evolution of supermassive black holes (SMBH) and galaxies, with a specific focus on characterising heavily obscured Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies (DSFGs) at high redshift (z~1-5).

The Project:

This multi-wavelength study leverages deep radio continuum data from the MeerKAT MIGHTEE and EDFS L-band surveys, combined with observations from leading facilities including Euclid, LSST, Chandra, and XMM. The work is divided into three phases:

  • Identifying and characterising a large sample of DSFGs in the MIGHTEE and EDFS fields to constrain the Star-Formation Rate Density (SFRD) evolution.
  • Building and characterising samples of X-Ray and radio-selected obscured AGN across all MIGHTEE fields.

  • Extending the search for obscured AGN (via [NeV] emitters) and DSFGs to the full Euclid Deep Field South (EDFS), utilising Euclid’s spectroscopic capabilities for environmental studies.

    Requirements:

  • Strong expertise in X-ray and multi-wavelength extragalactic astronomy.
  • Strong background in source characterisation and SED-fitting.
  • Experience with radio astronomy data analysis (MeerKAT data highly desirable).
  • (Not mandatory, but desired) Experience with supervision of students/teaching assistant roles.
  • The candidate should not have obtained the PhD more than 5 years before the date of appointment.

The position is for 2 years, funded by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory and will be based at the University of Cape Town (UCT), leveraging UCT/IDIA’s key role in the MeerKAT surveys and its access to the ilifu computational infrastructure. The successful candidate will also benefit from strong collaborations with Italian institutes (UniBo, INAF-IRA) and involvement in the MIGHTEE and EDFS- MeerKAT collaborations.

Application:
Please send the following documents to lucia.marchetti@uct.ac.za by December 5th, 2025:

  • Complete CV and list of publications.
  • Motivation letter with a short research statement (max 3 pages).
  • 2 Reference letters.

Selection should commence no later than 8 December 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. The position should start on January 1st, 2026.