TWO POSTDOCTORAL CONTRACTS GREST PROJECT 2017

The IAC (Tenerife) invites applications for TWO postdoctoral contracts to work on topics within the project “GREST: Getting Ready for EST” (H2020-653982), led by Dr. Manuel Collados Vera.

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 candidates will collaborate in the development of preliminary concepts for the future instrumentation required by EST as well as in the development of the telescope itself, following the principles defined at the EST conceptual design. Successful candidates will be involved in the activities of the technological and scientific work packages of the GREST project, led either by the IAC or by other consortium members.

The technological lines of interest are the following:

• Development of new generation detectors
• Tunable narrow-band Fabry–Perot Interferometers
• Integral field units and image slicers for 2D solar spectropolarimetry
• Polarization modulators, specially, liquid crystal variable retarders cells.
• Adaptive Optics

Whenever the technical developments require it, successful candidates will collaborate in the construction of new prototypes or in the adaptation of existing instruments or prototypes to achieve their tasks.

The selected candidates will work in close contact with the EST Project Office, and, as a result, will acquire a valuable experience for the development of the instruments for EST.

Position requirements: The candidates should have know-how and experience in at least two of the following technological lines, oriented towards astronomical instrumentation: detectors, Tunable narrow-band Fabry Perot Interferometers, Integral field units and image slicers for 2D spectropolarimetry, Polarization modulators, (specially, liquid crystal variable retarders cells) and Adaptive Optics. Successful candidates experience shall be, to the extent possible, complementary, in order to cover the largest number of lines.

Qualification requirements: To be eligible for admission, applicants must have obtained a Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics, Physics or optical, mechanical and electronic engineering (or equivalent, related to the position) within the application deadline (March 31, 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 up to May 31st, 2018 (finalization of the project). The starting date is expected to be on first half of 2017.

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/, 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 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.