Contact Us
For general inquiries, please contact our group administrator (riley.dierker [at] cfa.harvard.edu).
Individual scientists’ contact information can be found on our members page.
get involved in cmb at harvard!
Undergraduate Opportunities in Experimental Cosmology
Are you an undergraduate student excited about the universe’s biggest questions? Our lab is looking for motivated, hands-on students to support cutting-edge research in CMB.
You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to real hardware development—building, testing, and refining components for scientific instruments. including working on upgrades and instruments intended deployment to telescopes stationed at the South Pole. Whether you’re interested in instrumentation, data, or cosmology itself, there’s room to grow and make an impact.
We welcome undergraduates from all backgrounds and offer flexible involvement: positions may be paid, unpaid, or for class credit depending on experience, availability, and project needs. Ideal students are reliable, detail-oriented, and eager to learn by doing—in the lab, with tools in hand, while working alongside our team to help unlock the secrets of the early universe.
Interested students should send an email summarizing your research interests and goals. Additionally, students may provide an updated resume/CV if desired.
Inquiries should be sent direct to the group administrator, Riley Dierker.
Post-Baccalaureate Research in Experimental Cosmology
Our lab is seeking highly motivated post-baccalaureate individuals to join our team in advancing the next generation of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiments. This is intended to be a full-time, paid position offering immersive, hands-on experience at the intersection of physics, astronomy, and engineering.
The role focuses on supporting instrumentation efforts, including work on the BICEP Array and hardware development aligned with the legacy of the CMB-S4 project. You’ll work closely with experienced researchers to build, design, and test components for some of the most sensitive microwave telescopes on Earth.
This opportunity is a one-year term position, ideal for recent graduates looking to deepen their research skills before pursuing graduate study. We’re looking for individuals who are dependable, detail-oriented, and excited about experimental work. Experience with hardware, coding, or laboratory instrumentation is a plus, but above all, we value curiosity, follow-through, and a collaborative spirit.
Those interested should send an email outlining their research interests and goals, along with an updated CV or resume, to Riley Dierker (riley.dierker [at] cfa.harvard.edu)
Post-doctoral Research in CMB Instrumentation and Observational Cosmology
We are seeking ambitious postdoctoral researchers to join our experimental cosmology group, working at the forefront of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) science. Opportunities center on instrumentation and observational efforts connected to the BICEP Array and South Pole telescope upgrades, projects that embody the aspirational CMB program and will play a key role in deepening our understanding of the early universe over the coming decade.
This role offers the opportunity to lead and contribute to the design, development, and deployment of cutting-edge CMB instrumentation, as well as to participate in data collection, analysis, and interpretation aimed at probing the early universe and testing inflationary cosmology.
We’re looking for candidates with a Ph.D. in physics, astronomy, engineering, or a related field, and a strong background in experimental research. Prior experience with cryogenics, microwave systems, detector arrays, or related data analysis is especially welcome. Postdoctoral research opportunities offer mentorship, collaboration across institutions, and the chance to shape the direction of next-generation CMB research. These roles offers the opportunity to lead and contribute to the design, development, and deployment of cutting-edge CMB instrumentation, as well as to participate in data collection, analysis, and interpretation aimed at probing the early universe and testing inflationary cosmology. We’re looking for candidates with a Ph.D. in physics, astronomy, engineering, or a related field, and a strong background in experimental research. Prior experience with cryogenics, microwave systems, detector arrays, or related data analysis is especially welcome.
Those interested in postdoctoral research in our group can reach out to John Kovac and/or Riley Dierker. Interested parties are encouraged to send a CV and statement of research interests.
Our primary lab space is located across the street from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, right beside St. Peter’s Parish.
The pedestrian entrance faces the church, along a side-street called Manassas Ave.
We have a secondary lab location at 38 Oxford Street, Cambridge MA 02138.
Please note: all packages and deliveries must be addressed to 60 Garden Street, Cambridge MA 02138, with attn: to the lab’s specific recipient to be sorted.