Research Associate

Applications are invited for a Research Associate position in extragalactic astrophysics at the University of Minnesota within the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics. The successful applicant will work with professors Claudia Scarlata & Lucy Fortson on the Eyes on the Future project - a galaxyzoo.org and Zooniverse.org project to optimize science output for next generation surveys combining citizen science and machine learning (see NSF link: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1716602&HistoricalAwards=false).  

The Research Associate must have excellent analytical and computer programming skills, the ability to manage multiple projects, excellent organizational, presentation and writing skills, and demonstrated self-motivation and creativity. A Ph.D. in Physics, Astronomy or a related field is required. Experience with optical spectroscopic data, data mining and machine learning algorithms is a bonus. Responsibilities will include analysis and interpretation of spectroscopic and/or multi wavelength astronomical data, and publication of scientific results some fraction of which would take advantage of the morphological catalogs produced through the ongoing Galaxy Zoo project. The UMN Galaxy Zoo collaborators have led publications on a range of galaxy morphology and evolution topics and led the production of the morphological catalogs for the SDSS (Galaxy Zoo 2) and the Galaxy Zoo: Hubble projects.

The successful applicant will have access to the Large Binocular Telescope, Steward Observatory telescopes and the Supercomputing Institute at the University of Minnesota. In addition, the successful applicant will be a member of the Galaxy Zoo science team and will collaborate with members of the core Zooniverse infrastructure team.  

The appointment is expected to be for two years based on current funding; an additional third year is contingent on performance and further grant funding. The position start date is as soon as possible but is negotiable.

To apply, electronic submission is preferred to Claudia Scarlata at the e-mail address listed above. Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae and publication list, and a research plan (short, two pages at most), in a single document. Have three letters of recommendation also sent by the application deadline. (Hardcopy letters are acceptable which may be sent to the mailing address listed above and must also arrive by the application deadline of January 5, 2018.)