PhD and postdoc websites

 Useful websites to find open Ph.D. and Postdoc positions and more!!

When I was in the ultimate semester of my M.Sc. degree course in Physics, I started to rummage through the internet, looking for open (and relevant) Ph.D. positions. It was a hectic process since I was without any pointers, to begin with.  It is quite like trying to locate Betelgeuse without any background study. So eventually you will "run off" in all directions in the end wasting a lot of precious time. 

I will try to make your life a little easier by listing some popular websites as well as guides to writing effective SOPs/cover letters. 

#1 AAS job register         

This is one of the most popular websites to look for astrophysics Ph.D., Post-doc, faculty, etc. positions. For me honestly, this website proved to be the most effective. Note that it advertises only astronomy and astrophysics-related 'jobs'. The ad will contain salary information, project description, and email IDs of contact persons or Principal Investigators (PIs).  The advertised positions include:

1. Faculty positions (both visiting and tenure-track)
2. Graduate positons/Ph.D. positions
3. Post-doc positions 
4. Engineering and Management posts
5. Technical staff vacancy

Make sure to regularly visit the website at least 3-5 months prior to applying. Places in Europe are advertised in the second half of the year (post-September up to March the following year). Max-Planck institutes and DESY in Germany open their application portal in September. 

    US universities don't upload their ads on this website. It is better to visit individual university sites 2-3 months before the Fall or Spring semester. Be known that Fall applications start in November-January for admission to next year's Fall. A guide to writing a 'catchy' cover letter or SOP can be found at the bottom of this page.

#2 Inspire Jobs

Any amateur researcher must be familiar with this website. It is much more diverse in terms of opportunities. However, I must say that majority of the positions posted here are actually independent ones, ones that are hired by a singular professor who has (say) won a research grant. The Ph.D. program  name is not always mentioned. Nevertheless, anyone can contact the PIs and find out further details. There are several search filters like 'Field of interest', 'rank', and 'region'. Often the first two are relevant. The 'Field of interest' filter covers almost all areas of Physics and math. 

The Inspire Jobs website also has a 'seminar' and 'conference' section at the top horizontal menu where one can find a list of upcoming events. 

#3 Find A PhD

Find a Ph.D. is specifically targeted for Ph.D. positions in the United Kingdom. The positions are not regularly updated and so may not be always useful. They cover topics across a wide range of disciplines which one can easily filter out on the site. A more worthwhile usage of this site will be mentioned later on this page.

#4 European Astronomical Society

The EAS job directory is again astrophysics focussed as evident from its name. Most of the time they contain the same advertisements as the previously mentioned AAS Jobregister. Make sure to simultaneously visit this site as it contains some positions at off-beat locations like Greece and Portugal. A plus point of this website is that it has a Master's program filter so one can check this out during undergraduate studies. By going to the 'More Resources' tab, another useful site can be found described below this.

#5 Royal Astronomical Society

As the name suggests, this website only contains astrophysics positions in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Not frequently updated, but still worth a check just in case there is an interesting position. Check for vacancies at DIAS during February-April posted on this site.

If you're looking for research internships, workshops, or a guide to the Master's program.....

#6 Astrophysics Girl

This is simply a wonderful site maintained by Oxford University astrophysicist Hannah Dalgleish. It is loaded with astronomy internships and workshops across the world and much more. Please do visit the site. 

Below are websites that will help you groom your application. 

#7 Contacting your supervisor

When you're interested in a Ph.D. position, it is always better to contact the PI and acquire more information. This, not only aids your understanding of the topic, but also builds a relationship with your PI. Amidst the sea of applications, this contact can make or break your selection chances. As important a step it is, not many people can guide you on how to write a decent email. However, the FindAPhD website has this very useful guideline section which has helped me to write introductory emails to professors and also set up Zoom interactions. Try to include all the points mentioned in the guidelines before clicking that dreaded send button of your email. Even if you plan to meet your guide physically or virtually, they have suggestions for that too. All the best for your first mail/meeting!

#8 Writing SOPs

It is one of a kind site that lets you download SOPs of actual successful applications in the US. They also contain un-successful ones which inform you about the pitfalls in applications.

#9 Writing a successful cover letter

When it matters to writing a cover letter for your Ph.D. (mainly asked in Europe), this website has excellent guidelines which also helped me shape my letters. Go for it.

I hope this page will help you find a position and then successfully refine your applications. 

All the very best for your academic endeavors!!

Bye.