Leiden Observatory invites applications for a postdoctoral research position within the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) project. MUSE is an adaptive optics assisted integral field spectrograph that has been developed by an international consortium as a 2nd generation instrument for ESO's VLT. First light is scheduled for 2013. The MUSE design has been optimized for the study of galaxy formation and evolution, but it has a wide range of possible applications. MUSE is expected to produce a total of 100 TB of datacubes in 255 nights of Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO). The GTO program will start in the first half of 2014.
The successful applicant will work with the science team on the exploitation of the GTO with a focus on deep fields. He/she will be part of the team led by Joop Schaye and will work in close collaboration with the rest of the Leiden MUSE team and with other nodes in the MUSE collaboration.
Leiden Observatory is the oldest university astronomy department in the world, and the largest astronomy department in the Netherlands. Leiden is a charming university town with international flair.
The appointment will be for two years initially, but can be extended for a total of 4 years in case of satisfactory performance. The position comes with a competitive salary and full benefits.
The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. by the starting date.
Please submit applications electronically at http://jobs.strw.leidenuniv.nl/2012/SchayePD by January 1, 2013. You will be asked to fill in a web form, to provide contact information for three referees, and to upload a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a publication list and a brief statement of research experience and interests.
