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. JIVE also develops software tools in support of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) and the broad-band upgrade of the EVN, and has led the pioneering work for the implementation of VLBI with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). 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. The JIVE staff is actively pursuing scientific research in a wide range of subjects from cosmology, active galactic nuclei, star formation, galactic/extragalactic transients to planetary science.

For further information regarding JIVE and the EVN, refer to www.jive.eu and www.evlbi.org. This opening also appears on the JIVE web site (www.jive.eu/vacancies-jive).

Job description:

We invite applications for the position of JIVE Support Scientist to become available from as early as March 2021. The position has a 50%-50% split between support duties and the appointee's own research. Principal support responsibilities include:

• assisting EVN users to schedule and analyse 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
• data reduction support for users as well as training students (primarily for users and summer students visiting JIVE, but may include some online assistance for other users/students).

The position may also involve a modest amount of other local-service collateral duties, such as installation and maintaining astronomy software, developing scripts/bits of software for correlator and/or user support, organizing colloquia – depending on the skills and interest of the candidate.

Job requirements:

The candidate should have earned a Ph.D. in astronomy, space science, or other relevant field by the time of taking up the position. Experience in radio interferometry, and in particular with VLBI processing software would be a plus. A good command of written and spoken English is essential.

The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement Research Institutions.

We offer:

• A fulltime 38 hours per week temporary appointment in the service of the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I) for the duration of two years which can be extended for a total duration of three years based on good performance.
• A gross monthly salary, on a full time basis, in the range of € 3,383 to € 4,452 depending on relevant experience.
• A holiday allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.33% of the gross annual salary.
• A solid pension scheme (ABP).
• 42 vacation days per year on a full time basis.
• An excellent package of secondary benefits, including relocation expenses, an opportunity to participate in the collective healthcare insurance and a possibility for parental leave.

JIVE is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants of any nationality/citizenship are eligible to apply.

Information:

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Erika Timmerman, HR Officer (+31 (0)521-595-100; [email protected]). For additional enquiries please contact Dr. Z. Paragi ([email protected]), head of User Support at JIVE.

Reactions:

Applications should contain a CV including a list of publications, and a description of research interests. Please forward application materials to [email protected], mentioning reference number JIVE2021/01. Please arrange for three letters of reference to be sent separately to the same address. All application materials should arrive by 1 March 2021.