Deadline
Nov 15, 2026
Closing in 14 days
Location
N/A
United States
Employment
Temporary
Full or part time
Reference
N/A
Posted
Nov 01, 2026
Offered salary$26.00 per hour
About the role
Research Assistant – Gaia Variable Star Machine Learning
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Posting Information
Posting Information| Department | Physics and Astronomy - 319000 |
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| Career Area | Research Professionals |
| Posting Open Date | 11/01/2026 |
| Application Deadline | 11/15/2026 |
| Position Type | Temporary Staff (SHRA) |
| Position Title | Research Assistant – Gaia Variable Star Machine Learning |
| Position Number | 20079171 |
| Vacancy ID | S028189 |
| Full-time/Part-time | Part-Time Temporary |
| Hours per week | 30 |
| Work Schedule | Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Position Location | North Carolina, US |
| Hiring Range | $26.00 per hour |
| Proposed Start Date | 01/04/2027 |
| Estimated Duration of Appointment | 1 to 6 months |
| Be a Tar Heel! | A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events. |
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| Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit | Our primary mission is providing instruction of the highest quality in physics and astronomy to undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-CH. Training in physics is fundamental among the natural sciences because it provides understanding of the forces governing the structure of matter, from subatomic particles to the large-scale structure of the universe. Our departmental instructional mission spans all segments of the student community. Over 60% of all college graduates from UNC-CH have taken a course in our department. Among them: undergraduate liberal arts majors who should master the power of quantitative reasoning; undergraduates seeking a degree in another of the natural sciences, who need physics as a foundation for their advanced scientific training; the small number of undergraduates who major in physics, to whom we provide broad and rigorous training. Our graduate education and research advances frontiers of knowledge at the two extremes of space and time, from the very small) the realm of particle physics) to the very large (the realm of astronomy, while expanding the boundaries of knowledge in the many subfields spanning length scales between. Forefront physics and astronomy research requires access to well-equipped laboratories and extensive computing capabilities; it also must be supported by comprehensive and accessible library collections. Again, in research at this advanced level, the bridging aspect of physics provides basic interdisciplinary insight for many other sciences. This instructional mission is supported by a strong managerial, administrative, and technical staff. Duties of these employees range from budget planning and management for the numerous research grants held by faculty in the department to maintaining course and student records. These activities are usually accomplished in a standard 40- hour week schedule. |
| Position Summary | The Department of Physics and Astronomy seeks a temporary (30 hours/week) Research Assistant to support the CAS Seed Program project ‘Gaia in Technicolor: A Novel Approach for Mapping the Variability of Stars through H-R Diagram Motions’ (PI: Dr. Brad Barlow; Co-I: Dr. Tarek Zikry). The project uses machine learning and functional data analysis to classify millions of variable stars from their motions through the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in European Space Agency Gaia DR3 multi-epoch photometry. The Research Assistant will serve as the primary day-to-day researcher during the discovery, characterization, and dissemination phases of the project, working under the supervision of Drs. Barlow and Zikry and meeting with them bi-weekly. |
| Minimum Education and Experience Requirements | Demonstrated possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work. |
| Management Preferences |
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| Special Physical/Mental Requirements | |
| Campus Security Authority Responsibilities | Not Applicable. |
| Special Instructions | |
| Quick Link | https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/327595 |
| Temporary Employment Policies | Temporary Employment Policies |
| Office of Human Resources Contact Information | If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to [email protected] Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status. |
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| Equal Opportunity Employer Statement | The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. |
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How to apply
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