Postdoctoral Researcher with instrumentation and software skills for high resolution spectrograph

We seek to appoint a researcher to work on our EXOhSPEC project. This is an instrument built from catalogue components utilising technologies not deployed in astronomical spectrographs to achieve the highest possible radial velocity precision. Active feedback is used to keep the light path in the spectrograph constant. The aim of the project is to significantly extend the reach of precision radial velocities to higher precisions and efficiencies to enable a space-based radial velocity instrument. The researcher will use EXOhSPEC in the laboratory and prototype on different telescopes including the Thai National Telescope and the Isaac Newton telescope. It is necessary to have strong technical skills particularly in data reduction using python as well as some instrumentation background. 

The researcher will be based in the University of Hertfordshire's Centre for Astrophysics Research and work primarily with Hugh Jones and William Martin. The Centre for Astrophysics research is based in the town of Hatfield located in semi-rural Hertfordshire. Hatfield is 25 minutes by train from central London.

The post is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council initially supported to October 2022 with an extension applied for. The appointee should have obtained a PhD before taking up the post.  

Applications are submitted online including a pdf version of a CV including the contact details of two referees willing to write on your behalf via the University of Hertfordshire's recruitment website. Full consideration will be given to applications made by 9 January 2022.