One Postdoctoral Contract AS OOCC 2017

The IAC (Tenerife, Spain) invites applications for ONE Support Astronomer (AS) contract at the Observatorios de Canarias (OOCC) on Tenerife and La Palma.

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 are supported by an ambitious instrumentation programme. 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 GTC is available at the IAC's web page (http://www.iac.es/).

The Support Astronomers Group, under the direct supervision of the Head of Telescope Operations (JOT) is in charge of all the IAC’s Telescopes, Instruments and Experiments at the Canary Islands Observatories, including the common user instruments at other telescopes (LIRIS, INTEGRAL and GHaFaS at WHT, TIP-II at Gregor, etc.).

OOCC Support Astronomers devote the main fraction of their time (70% or more) to support-tasks associated with the Observatories. The successful candidate will spend about 8 days per month at the Observatories and the rest of his/her time at the IAC´s headquarters in La Laguna devoted to support tasks.  Up to 30% of his/her time will be dedicated to conduct independent research, joining one or more research groups at the IAC.  Please indicate in your cover letter which groups you wish to collaborate with.

Duties:

• Maintaining the quality of the IAC’s Telescopes, Instruments and Experiments at the Canary Islands Observatories;
• Development of software to control these instruments, as well as accurate and user-friendly software for the reduction of the obtained data;
• Carrying out the IAC’s Service Nights;
• Providing support to astronomers using the IAC’s Telescopes, Instruments and Experiments;
• Collaborate with the Sky Quality Group in taking, reducing and analysing the data obtained with the different instruments;
• Calibration of the instruments’ performance during the observation of different objects.
• Writing of the user’s manuals, for both non-experienced and experienced users.
• Proposal, development and commissioning of improvements in the instrumentation.

Knowledge and skills:

• Experience with telescopes, preferably those installed at the Canarian Observatories, astronomical research and instrumentation, and expertise with data reduction and analysis.
• Knowledge of the astronomical packages (IRAF, IDL, etc.) and design of web sites, as well as experience with scientific computing in Solaris, Linux and Windows environments.
• Interest in and desire to increase their knowledge of those areas in which they are less experienced.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and as part of a small and dynamic team.
• High motivation in assisting and providing support to users.
• Working knowledge of Spanish and good level of English, both written and oral.
• A valid driving license.

Previous experience as Support Astronomer and interest in astrophysical instrumentation will be highly valued.

Qualification Requirements: To be eligible for admission, applicants must have obtained a Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics or Physics, within the application deadline (15th  September 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 for a period of three years. The starting date is expected to be in the second half of 2017.

Remuneration: The gross annual salary is 33,215 Euros, subject to 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.