Associate in Research

Position Description

Position Description:

The Duke Cosmology Group in the Department of Physics at Duke University invites applications for an Associate in Research position. The successful candidate will work with Prof. Dan Scolnic.
The group seeks a creative and motivated researcher to work on frontier space policies, with a focus on planetary defense on international and local scale.
The researcher will analyze how governments, international bodies, and local communities prepare for and respond to potential asteroid and comet impacts. The work will start with existing frameworks, such as the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG), as well as national and local emergency management practices. The position offers the opportunity to draft policy briefs and develop early-stage governance proposals in a highly interdisciplinary environment which connects law, public policy, risk communication, and planetary science. Ideal candidates have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, clear writing, and curiosity about emerging space policy and law.
Ideal candidates should have strong problem-solving skills, curiosity about emerging space policies and laws.

Responsibilities:
● Analyze international and national frameworks for planetary defense governance
● Assess local emergency-management plans for potential asteroid and comet impacts
● Lead and mentor undergraduate and graduate students on policy research projects
● Collaborate with teams across the Cosmology Research Group
● Contribute to early-stage policy proposals in an interdisciplinary environment
● Present results at collaboration meetings, policy forums, and scientific conferences

Required Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s degree in public policy, international relations, law, political science, physics, astronomy, or a related field by the start date. Master’s degree preferred.
● Strong background in science and technology policy, space law, or risk governance

Environment and Collaboration:
The Duke Cosmology Group is part of a vibrant research community with strengths and presence in leading Stage-IV Dark Energy experiments. We are actively involved in the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration, NASA OpenUniverse effort and in several Roman Project Infrastructure Teams (PITs), offering ample opportunities for collaboration and leadership.
Duke University is in Durham, North Carolina, a thriving area with an excellent quality of life and strong academic networks across the Research Triangle.

Application Instructions:
Applicants should submit the following materials as a single PDF to [insert application email or link]:
1. Cover letter outlining research interests and qualifications

2. Curriculum vitae including publications

3. Brief research statement (≤3 pages)

4. Link(s) to relevant open-source software contributions (e.g., GitHub)

5. Contact information for three references

Review of applications will begin October 22, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.
Informal inquiries are welcome and may be sent to Dr. Dan Scolnic (daniel.scolnic@duke.edu).

Duke University
is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment
opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability,
gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information,
national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy
related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

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