CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Astrophysical Masers and/or Interstellar Medium Science with GASKAP-OH

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or Australian temporary residents currently residing in Australia and be able to commence in the role by 31 January 2023.

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships provide opportunities to scientists and engineers who have completed their doctorate and have less than three years of relevant postdoctoral work experience. In this position you will work with incoming data from the GASKAP-OH project, one of nine approved Survey Science Projects on the Australia Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). GASKAP-OH is observing all four 18-cm ground state lines of hydroxyl (OH) at unprecedented resolution and sensitivity, across the Southern Galactic Plane and Large Magellanic Cloud, and pilot data is in hand. The Fellow will work with the ASKAP software team to finalise the imaging pipeline for the full GASKAP-OH survey, and lead the publication of early science results and data release papers. The key science areas of GASKAP-OH are high-mass star formation masers, evolved stellar masers, and quasi-thermal OH absorption as a probe of interstellar medium physics. The postdoctoral fellow will develop a high-impact science programme in one of these key areas, supported by the expertise of a dispersed project team in Sydney, the SKAO (Perth & Manchester, UK), and many other institutes across the world.

Key duties:

• Lead a high-impact science programme using GASKAP-OH data
• Work closely with the ASKAP software team to test and finalise the GASKAP-OH imaging pipeline
• Develop and apply source-finding algorithms to extract masers and absorption line sources
• Collaborate with local and international colleagues to develop scientific theory on high-mass star formation masers, evolved stellar masers, and/or OH absorption
• Publish and promote high-impact science results from the GASKAP-OH survey

Essential selection criteria:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as Astronomy, Astrophysics, or similar. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Demonstrated aptitude in radio interferometry techniques, data reduction and analysis.
• Demonstrated aptitude to undertake spectral line astrophysics research.
• Demonstrated record of publication in reputable astronomy/astrophysics journals and effective presentation of results at national and/or international conferences.
• Demonstrated record of effective teamwork, plus the motivation and discipline to carry out autonomous research.

Desirable selection criteria:

• Expertise in a closely-related science field (especially astrophysical masers or thermal molecular lines; experience with OH lines will be looked on favourably)
• Proficiency in coding to enable quick delivery of diagnostics and science results from large datasets
• Experience working in large collaborative projects, including the ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research team
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and diversity

For full details about this role please view the Position Description linked from the CSIRO job listing.

Please apply on-line and provide your CV and a single document including (i) a cover letter, (i) your statement of how you fulfil the selection criteria, and (iii) one page outlining up to 3 research project ideas that you might carry out with GASKAP-OH data.