Optics postdoc position in Caltech Space Structures Laboratory
Job Summary
Job Description
Optics postdoc position in Caltech Space Structures Laboratory
We are currently developing ultrathin active mirror optics technologies for future space telescopes, with a focus on design, manufacture and test of novel lightweight segmented primary mirrors. We are also working on the Caltech led AAReST (Autonomous Assembly of a Reconfigurable Space Telescope) flight project, due to be launched in 2019. More information can be found on http://pellegrino.caltech.edu/aarest1
The postdoc will carry out research funded by a NASA technology grant, to develop primary wavefront control schemes to reduce the effects of misalignments, pupil discontinuities and unwanted diffraction on the PSF of telescope systems to characterize terrestrial exoplanets. A parallel effort to use in-situ sensing and control of primary mirror figure errors is already under way. The postdoc will join the AAReST team of graduate students and post-docs and will be responsible for the optical imaging aspects of AAReST. Strong experimental skills are needed, including: optical set-up for mirror performance characterization, integration and testing of optical and electronics breadboards, adaptive optics, co-phasing of mirror segments. In addition, experience in mirror control (hardware and software) will be helpful.
Enquiries and applications to:
Professor Sergio Pellegrino
California Institute of Technology
Phone: (626) 395-4764
[email protected]