One Postdoctoral Contract PLATO IAC 2017

The IAC (Tenerife) invites applications for ONE postdoctoral contract to work on topics within the “Contribución del IAC a la misión espacial PLATO 2.0 Fase B2/C”” (ESP2015-65712-C5-4-R)” project, led by Dr. Hans Deeg.

Research topics at the IAC include most areas of astrophysics: solar physics, planetary systems, stellar and interstellar physics, galactic 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).

Duties: The selected candidate will pursue research related to one or several of the following fields:

• The main task of this position are scientific preparations for the PLATO space mission. At IAC such work is centred on the detection of circumbinary planets and the preparation of follow-up activities, for which the pertinent activities are to be pursued.
• Other activities to comply with requests from the Plato Science management (PSM) are also to be expected.
• The incumbent will be encouraged to perform his or her own research program, preferably in collaboration with other members of IAC, and to participate in the discussions and activities of the IAC’s exoplanet research group.

Expertise in the following topics will be highly valued:

• Experience with space mission preparations.
• Expertise on circumbinary planets, on topics such as detection methods, abundances, orbital stability and simulation.
• Observations with ground-based telescopes, especially for photometry with the use or development of analysis software.

Position requirements: The candidates must have a solid track record of research and are expected to have a strong publication record.

Qualification requirements: To be eligible for admission, applicants must have obtained a Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics or Physics, within the application deadline (August, 31st, 2017).  A copy of the degree or corresponding stamped certificate (issued by the University where the degree was obtained), must be included.  If the applicant has not completed the Ph.D. degree within the application deadline, will not be considered.

Training: Those candidates who have done their Ph.D. research at the IAC must have undertaken a period of training at 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 appointment will be for a period of one year (finishing date December 30th 2018, the latest).  The starting date is expected to be in October 2017 and not later than January 1st 2018.

Remuneration: The gross annual salary is 33,215 Euros, subject to up to 20% tax and Social Security deductions (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 (only for the selected candidate) comprising: the cost of the flight ticket (booked and issued by the IAC), temporary accommodation for up to two weeks (organised by the IAC) and per diem rate up to two weeks.  The maximum IAC will reimburse is 2,000 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: use the online application system, http://www.iac.es/jobs/research/plato2017, including the required information and documents. Alternatively, follow the instructions in the official announcement (only in Spanish).

The required documentation must be submitted using the online application system and received by the application deadline. The application form, CV, publication list, statements of research interests and suitability for the position, copy of the Ph.D. degree, and copy the national identity or passport should be merged into a single PDF file.

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.