One Postdoctoral Contract ERC Advanced Grant POLMAG 2018

The IAC (Tenerife) invites applications for ONE postdoctoral contract to work in the project “Polarized Radiation Diagnostics for Exploring the Magnetism of the Outer Solar Atmosphere” (POLMAG), funded by the Advanced Grant that the European Research Council (ERC) has awarded to Prof. Javier Trujillo Bueno (see http://www.iac.es/proyecto/polmag/).

 

Research topics at the IAC include most areas of astrophysics: solar physics, planetary systems, stellar and interstellar physics, galaxy formation and evolution, and cosmology and astroparticles. These research lines are supported by an ambitious instrumentation program. The IAC has been selected as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence by the Spanish Government in 2015, a prestigious recognition awarded for the second time to the IAC as a leading research institute in Spain. Further information about the IAC's research programme, its Observatories and the 10.4m GTC is available at the IAC's web page (http://www.iac.es).

 

The IAC is a Public Consortium and a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence doing research on the following areas of astrophysics: solar physics, planetary systems, stellar and interstellar physics, galactic formation and evolution, cosmology and astroparticles, as well as on development of instrumentation. Further information about the IAC's research programme is available at http://www.iac.es/. The appointed candidate will benefit from the research environment at the IAC, which hosts one of the largest and most active Solar Physics groups in Europe. The group covers theory, numerical modeling, observations and instrumental development, and is seriously involved on the development of novel international projects such as the EST (European Solar Telescope) and CLASP (Chromospheric LAyer SpectroPolarimeter).

 

Duties: The selected candidate will have the following responsibilities:

 

• To carry out novel investigations based on spectropolarimetric observations with ground-based and space solar telescopes, with emphasis on the study of the magnetic field in chromospheric and coronal structures and its coupling with the underlying photosphere.
• Formulate, perform and analyze the spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric observations of interest for the POLMAG project (e.g., observations with ground-based solar telescopes, such as GREGOR, SST and DKIST, as well as with space telescopes such as IRIS, HINODE and SDO).
• To develop and/or apply novel plasma diagnostic techniques (e.g., HAZEL, PORTA, etc.) in order to interpret spectropolarimetric observations of chromospheric lines, in collaboration with other members of the POLMAG team.
• To help develop the “Polarized Radiation Diagnostics Website”, in coordination with the PI and the POLMAG scientist responsible of this activity, including the documentation of the observations and computer codes related with the researcher’s activity.
• To contribute to the scientific dissemination activity of the POLMAG project, including the preparation of public outreach material on the project’s research area.

 

Position requirements: Candidates with experience in spectropolarimetric observations (including their analyses and interpretation) and/or in the development and application of novel Stokes inversion codes of chromospheric lines are especially encouraged to apply. A good knowledge of the physics of polarization in spectral lines and/or plasma physics would be also very welcomed.

 

Qualification requirements: To be eligible for admission, applicants must have obtained a Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics or Physics, by the application deadline (September 13, 2018). A copy of the degree or corresponding stamped certificate (issued by the University where the degree was obtained) must be included. Applicants who have not completed their Ph.D. degree within the application deadline will not be considered.

 

Selection stage: The selection process will consist of two stages: a merit assessment phase and an interview.

 

In the merit assessment stage, the Selection Committee will verify and rate the merits documented by the applicants. The maximum score that can be awarded for the assessment of merits will be 80 points, which will be calculated as the sum of the scores obtained in each of the sections.

 

A) Maximum score: 60 points

 

• Scientific and technical contributions to the field of research.
• Scientific publications, in quality and quantity, listed in the Science Citation Index (SCI conference contributions, teaching tasks, participation in scientific committees, membership of scientific conference committees, conference organization, journal refereeing, and stays at other research centres.
• Every career stage since the defence of the doctoral thesis will be taken into consideration.

 

B) Maximum score: 20 points

 

Adequacy of the candidate’s training and experience for the contract applied for

 

• A good know-how and familiarity with the instrumentation needed for obtaining high-precision spectropolarimetric observations (e.g., experience with the use of polarimeters, such as TIP, ZIMPOL and CRISP).
• Experience carrying out spectropolarimetric observations with solar telescopes and a solid know-how on their analyses.
• Experience with the development and/or application of novel plasma diagnostic techniques for interpreting spectro-polarimetric observations of chromospheric lines (e.g., with the HAZEL code).
• Experience performing observations with the IRIS, HINODE and/or SDO space telescopes, including the analysis of the data.

 

Method of accreditation for both sections: Research statement, which includes a report on the technical and research activity carried out, accompanied by documentation that proves what was stated in it. Candidates should also present a scientific project to be developed during the contract.

 

C) Interview. Maximum score: 20 points

 

Candidates who have obtained the minimum score to pass the first phase (50 points) will be called to the second assessment phase at a specific time and date. The second phase will consist in an interview that can take place either in person at the IAC headquarters or using internet communication software (e.g., skype or zoom) that allows voice and image transmission.

 

During the interview, the candidates will present, for a maximum of 20 minutes, their vision about the suitability of their professional profile to the position applied for and the development of their research activity if awarded the contract. The Selection Committee may then ask questions about the contents of the presentation and any other aspects that they deem relevant.

 

The presentation may be in either Spanish or in English.

 

In this exercise a score of 0 to 20 points will be awarded, of which:

 

Up to 10 points, correspond to the suitability of the professional profile to the position applied for.

 

Up to 10 points, correspond to the candidate's vision of the future and planned research activity in the context of the position applied for.

 

To pass this second phase a minimum score of 15 points will be necessary.

 

To pass the selective process, it will be necessary to obtain a minimum score of 65 points.

 

In order to ensure the effective equality of opportunity for men and women, in pursuance of the provisions of the IAC's Second Plan of Equality, and to ensure that certain documented circumstances of candidates do not prejudice the success of their application, the following special circumstances will be taken positively into account:

 

• Maternity leave, up to 18 months after the date of birth or adoption.
• Paternity leave, as provided for by Social Security, for the duration of the corresponding permit.
• Severe illness or accident with medical leave for a minimum of 3 months.
• Care of dependents for a minimum period of 3 months, as provided for by Law 39/2006.
• Work permits for the care of dependent children or adults.

 

Training: Those candidates who have done their Ph.D. research at the IAC must have undertaken a period of training in other research centres. This period must consist of either one continuous year or 18 accumulated months (including periods of training during their doctoral period).

 

Duration: The duration of the contract will be for a period of 3 years, subject to annual revisions. The starting date is expected to be during the last four months of 2018, and ideally not later than October 1, 2018. Depending on the progress of the investigations, the contract may be extended up to December 31, 2022.

Research travel funds: The contract includes all the travel expenses needed for the successful development of the project (meetings, workshops, observations, collaborations, etc.).

 

Remuneration: The gross annual salary is 33,547 Euros, subject to up to 20% income tax and Social Security contributions (depending on the personal situation of the candidate). Medical insurance under the Spanish National Health Service will be provided for the candidate and will also cover spouse or registered partner (de facto partner) and children (if relevant).

 

Relocation allowance: This call includes a relocation allowance (for the appointed candidate only) comprising: the cost of the flight ticket (booked and issued by the IAC), temporary accommodation for up to two weeks (organized by the IAC) and a per diem rate up to two weeks. The allowance cannot exceed the amount of 2,500 Euros.

 

Non-UE citizens: Applicants who are not citizen of a country belonging to the European Union are invited to apply for this position, but, if selected, will be allowed to sign the contract with the IAC only after obtaining the compulsory documentation required to live and work in Spain. 

 

How to apply: The required documentation must be submitted using the online application system http://www.iac.es/jobs/research/, and received by the application deadline. Alternatively, candidates may follow the instructions in the official announcement (in Spanish only).

 

The following documentation will be sent in in a single file in PDF format:

 

• Application form (Annex I, duly completed and signed)
• Curriculum Vitae, including publication list
• Research activity report and statement of suitability for the position (maximum of 2 pages)
• Scientific project to be developed during the contract (maximum of 2 pages).
• Copy of the Ph.D. degree certificate
• Copy of the national identity document or passport

 

In addition, the names and e-mails of three scientists familiar with the work of the candidate must be indicated.

 

Late applications or those that do not include the mandatory Application Form (Annex I), will not be considered. In case of incomplete applications, the applicant will have a period of five (5) days, starting from the day after publication of the provisional list of accepted and excluded candidates, to provide the missing documentation.