Junior Telescope Scientist

Submission Information
Publish Date: 
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Archive Date: 
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Job Summary
Job Category: 
Post-doctoral Positions and Fellowships
Institution Classification/Type: 
Foreign
Institution/Company: 
ASTRON, Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy
Street Line 1: 
Oude Hoogeveensedijk 4
City: 
Dwingeloo
State/Province: 
Drenthe
Zip/Postal: 
7991 PD
Country: 
Netherlands
Announcement
Job Announcement Text: 

Are you interested in working at an internationally leading scientific research institute with a stimulating environment? Would you like to develop skills and novel experimental methods on systems using technologies that produce cutting-edge science now and contribute to the development of the SKA? Would you like to assist astronomers worldwide and do research with data from LOFAR and APERTIF yourself? Then you might be our new

Junior Telescope Scientist

The position has 50% radio astronomical research and 50% support duties.

Job description:

As a junior telescope scientist, you will be a member of the Science Operations and Support (SOS) Group of the Radio Observatory at ASTRON, who is responsible for optimizing the scientific output of the ASTRON-operated observing instruments and telescopes. With your astronomical knowledge you will support the operations, maintenance, and technical development work by internal operators and instrument engineers. With your technical knowledge, you will support the external users/scientists with their research projects. The SOS group is being restructured to optimally handle the challenges of operating massive interferometric arrays and currently comprises temporary as well as permanent members.

Depending on your technical background and interests, your support responsibilities may include:

  • involvement in the development of new observing modes, software or hardware;

  • astronomical commissioning and testing of new equipment and capabilities;

  • advising and assisting users to design, prepare, run observations, process and analyse their data;

  • monitoring of system performance, system calibration, tuning, and optimization.

You will carry out high-level personal astronomical and/or technical research, using world-class astronomical facilities. Your research can be on any astrophysical or instrumental topic, although some component involving the use of LOFAR and/or Apertif and/or allowing possibilities to collaborate with other ASTRON research staff is preferred.

Job requirements:

  • a Phd in astronomy;

  • preferably thorough knowledge of radio interferometry;

  • good communication skills;

  • preferably experience handling data from LOFAR;

  • scientific and/or instrumental interest in our instruments;

  • a good command of written and spoken English is essential.

We offer:

  • a contract for two years plus a one-year extension, based on good performance;

  • any additional extension or potential advancement to a senior level will depend on skills, expertise and performance of the candidate and opportunities arising within the group;

  • travel budget for scientific collaborations trips and conferences;

  • besides a pleasant and challenging work environment we have a good package of benefits like a pension plan, group discounts on individual insurances and travel expenses;

  • flexible conditions of employment tailored to your personal situation;

  • generous relocation expenses and support with finding accommodation.

The organisation:

ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, is located just outside Dwingeloo, The Netherlands. Our mission is to make discoveries in radio astronomy happen. We are a world-wide leader on the development of array antennas for radio astronomy. We have developed and built phased arrays of 100,000+ elements operating between 10 and 250 MHz, and L-band phased array feeds for the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope. Our research and development aims at continuously improving the performance and cost-effectiveness of this technology for future telescopes, such as the Square Kilometre Array.

Information:

For more information about ASTRON check our website http://www.astron.nl and http://www.jobsatastron.nl. For more information about this vacancy please contact Erika Timmerman, HR officer, phone: +31 521 595 100 or e-mail: [email protected]. For informal enquiries, please contact: Dr. Roberto Pizzo ([email protected]), Head of the Science Operations & Support Group of the Radio Observatory.

Reactions:

You can apply directly for this job (ref.nr. 2018-01-004) on www.jobsatastron.nl. Applications should include a CV, scientific interests and a research proposal. Please also arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to [email protected]. The deadline for submission is 19 August 2018. The first round of interviews will be held in September 2018. Candidates will be considered until the position has been filled.

 

Application Deadline: 
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Selection Deadline: 
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Current Status of Position: 
Accepting Applicants
Apply to Job
Attention To: 
Erika Timmerman
Title: 
HR Officer
Institution/Company: 
ASTRON, Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy
Street Line 1: 
Oude Hoogeveensedijk 4
City: 
Dwingeloo
State/Province: 
Drenthe
Zip/Postal Code: 
7991 PD
Country: 
Netherlands
Inquiries About Job
Attention To: 
Dr. Roberto Pizzo