Support Scientist

The Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE) is seeking candidates for fixed-term appointment as

SUPPORT SCIENTIST

to be located at JIVE, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands.

The European VLBI Network (EVN) is an interferometric array of radio telescopes spread throughout Europe, extending into Asia, Africa, and Puerto Rico, and often observes in conjunction with the e-MERLIN interferometer in the UK and the VLBA in the US. The Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE) is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium whose primary mission is to operate the EVN VLBI correlator and provide front-line support to EVN users and member telescopes. JIVE is actively developing new correlator capabilities to promote scientific exploitation of real-time e-VLBI, topics within space science, and use of larger global VLBI arrays observing with the East Asian and African VLBI Networks. JIVE is hosted in Dwingeloo by ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy. Dutch universities are within easy reach of Dwingeloo, and interaction with other radio-astronomy institutes throughout Europe provides for a vibrant research atmosphere.

Job description:

Principal support responsibilities include:

• assisting EVN users to schedule and analyze VLBI experiments;
• monitoring EVN performance through dedicated test observations;
• overseeing the correlation of experiments: data-quality review, preparation of PI/station feedback, liaison with users and network telescopes, etc.;
• maintaining/developing features of the EVN pipeline;
• testing new correlator/network capabilities.

The position may also involve a modest amount of other local-service collateral duties, such as visitor coordination or organizing colloquia. The position has a 50-50 split between support duties and the appointee's own research. We invite applications for the position of JIVE Support Scientist to become available from as early as December 2018.

Job requirements:

The position requires:

• a Ph.D. in astronomy, space science, or other relevant field by the time of taking up the position;
• a solid foundation in radio interferometry techniques;
• a good command of written and spoken English;
• an interest in VLBI processing software would be a plus.

We offer:

The appointment is offered for one year in the first instance with extension up to a total of three years pending good performance. The appointee will be in the formal employ of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). The position carries a competitive salary plus an excellent package of secondary benefits, including relocation expenses.

Information:

For more information regarding JIVE and the EVN, refer to www.jive.eu and www.evlbi.org. Further information about this vacancy, please contact Erika Timmerman, HR Officer (+31 (0)521-595-100; [email protected]).For additional enquiries please contact Dr. R.M. Campbell ([email protected]), head of Science Operations at JIVE.

Reactions:

Applications should contain a CV, a list of publications, and a description of research interests. Please forward application materials to [email protected], mentioning reference number JIVE2018/01. Please arrange for three letters of reference to be sent separately to the same address. All application materials should arrive by 3 September 2018.