One Postdoctoral Contract ERC Observer POLMAG 2018

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC, Tenerife, Spain) ) invites applications for ONE postdoctoral contract to work in the project “Polarized Radiation Diagnostics for Exploring the Magnetism of the Outer Solar Atmosphere” (POLMAG), funded by the Advanced Grant that the European Research Council (ERC) has awarded to Prof. Javier Trujillo Bueno (see http://www.iac.es/proyecto/polmag/ ).

 

The IAC is a Public Consortium and a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence doing research on the following areas of astrophysics: solar physics, planetary systems, stellar and interstellar physics, galactic formation and evolution, cosmology and astroparticles, as well as on development of instrumentation. Further information about the IAC's research programme is available at http://www.iac.es/. The appointed candidate will benefit from the research environment at the IAC, which hosts one of the largest and most active Solar Physics groups in Europe. The group covers theory, numerical modeling, observations and instrumental development, and is seriously involved on the development of novel international projects such as the EST (European Solar Telescope) and CLASP (Chromospheric LAyer SpectroPolarimeter).

 

Duties: The selected candidate will have the following responsibilities:

 

• To carry out novel investigations based on spectropolarimetric observations with ground-based and space solar telescopes, with emphasis on the study of the magnetic field in chromospheric and coronal structures and its coupling with the underlying photosphere.
• Formulate, perform and analyze the spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric observations of interest for the POLMAG project (e.g., observations with ground-based solar telescopes, such as GREGOR, SST and DKIST, as well as with space telescopes such as IRIS, HINODE and SDO).
• To apply the group’s plasma diagnostic tools (e.g., HAZEL, PORTA, etc.) in order to interpret the spectropolarimetric observations, in collaboration with other members of the POLMAG team. 
• To help develop the “Polarized Radiation Diagnostics Website”, in coordination with the PI and the POLMAG scientist responsible of this activity, including the documentation of the observations and computer codes related with the researcher’s activity.
• To help with the elaboration of reports of progress and justification to the financing entity, in coordination with the PI and the personnel involved in project management.
• To contribute to the scientific dissemination activity of the POLMAG project, including the preparation of public outreach material on the project’s research area.

 

Position requirements: The candidates must have a solid experience in spectropolarimetric observations, as well as with their analyses and interpretation.

 

Qualification requirements: To be eligible for admission, applicants must have obtained a Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics or Physics, within the application deadline (April 30, 2018).  A copy of the degree or corresponding stamped certificate (issued by the University where the degree was obtained), must be included. Applicants who have not completed the Ph.D. degree within the application deadline will not be considered.

 

Merits to value:

Section A (maximum score: 60 points):

 

• Scientific and technical contributions to the field of research.
• Scientific publications, in quality and quantity, collected in the Science Citation Index (SCI), paper in conferences; teaching tasks, scientific activity committees, scientific conference committees, conference organization, journal referee and stays in other centres.

 

Section B (maximum score: 40 points):

 

Adequacy of training and experience of the candidate to the contract he/she is applying for:

 

• A solid know-how and familiarity with the instrumentation needed for obtaining high-precision spectropolarimetric observations (e.g., experience with the use of polarimeters, such as TIP, ZIMPOL and CRISP).
• Experience carrying out spectropolarimetric observations with solar telescopes and a solid know-how on their analyses.
• Experience with the use of plasma diagnostic tools for interpreting spectro-polarimetric observations (e.g., with the HAZEL code).
• Experience on observations with the IRIS, HINODE and/or SDO space telescopes, including the analysis of the data.

 

In order to guarantee coverage of the effective equality of men and women, and developing the provisions of the Second Plan of Equality of the IAC, the merit values will be measured when certain documented situations exist, which can be presumed that they may diminish the performance of the personnel, with the aim that they do not detract from the evaluation of the career of each applicant. In any case, the following are considered to be special situations:

 

• Maternity, up to 18 months after the date of birth or adoption.
• Paternity, enjoyed as provided by Social Security, for the duration of the corresponding permit.
• Severe illness or accident with medical leave for a minimum of 3 months.
• Care for dependents for a minimum period of 3 months, as provided by Law 39/2006.
• Work Permits for care of dependent children or adults.

 

Training: Those candidates who have done their Ph.D. research at the IAC must have undertaken a period of training in 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 till 31st December 2022, subject to annual revisions. The starting date can be as soon as 1st June 2018, and ideally not later than September 2018.

Research travel funds: The contract includes all the travel expenses needed for the successful development of the project (meetings, workshops, observations, collaborations, etc.). 

 

Remuneration: The gross annual salary will be 39,622 Euros, plus the annual residence allowance (2,099.91 Euros). The contract includes medical insurance under the Spanish National Health Service, which will also cover the 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 application form, CV, publication list, statements of research interests and suitability for the position, copy of the Ph.D. degree, and copy of the national identity or passport should be merged into a single PDF file. In addition, the names and e-mails of three scientists familiar with the work of the candidate must be indicated.

 

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.