EHT Radio Astronomer

Event Horizon Telescope Data Scientist (Radio Astronomer)
Position at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Applications are invited for a software and data scientist (radio astronomer) position in the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) group at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), a partner in the Center for Astrophysics (CfA) with Harvard University. The EHT is an international project to study event horizon scale physics at the boundary of the supermassive black holes at the center of the Milky Way (SgrA*) and in Virgo A (M87) using the technique of Very Long Baseline Interferometry. The EHT group at SAO is located close to Harvard University at 160 Concord Ave. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is closely affiliated with the Harvard Black Hole Initiative (BHI), the first interdisciplinary research center worldwide to focus on the study of black holes.

On April 10, 2019, the EHT announced the first images of a black hole. These images resolved the core of the M87 galaxy, revealing a bright ring of emission encircling the predicted ‘shadow’ of a 6.5 billion solar mass black hole. Scientists in the EHT group have full access to proprietary EHT data and are encouraged to take leading roles in all aspects of the project, including observations, instrument development, and data analysis, as well as studies of black hole accretion, jet formation, and exotic spacetimes.

The specific position announced here focuses on processing raw data from multiple radio telescopes into distilled forms that can directly generate interpretable science, and it will fill a key role in the design and production of scientific data products for the EHT and its next generation (ngEHT). Topics of study include distributed and high-performance computing, calibration and error analysis, coordination of a global radio VLBI array, and black hole observational modeling and fundamental science. The appointee will join an international team that includes engineers, astrophysical theorists, software developers, astronomers, and imaging algorithm experts, all united by a common science vision for the EHT and its successor projects.

We are looking for highly motivated and excellent applicants with experience in radio interferometry, software, astronomy data pipelines, digital signal processing, mm/submm instrumentation, and black hole theory/simulation/modeling. There are multiple opportunities for the successful candidate to take on leading roles.

To apply, please go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/606123800. For further information about the EHT or BHI, please go to www.eventhorizontelescope.org or https://bhi.fas.harvard.edu. Please direct any questions about projects or programs to Shep Doeleman ([email protected]).

Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. AAE/EOE.