This job has Expired
SOAR Research and Instrument Support Postdoc
Job Description
Posting Information
Posting Details
| Department | Physics and Astronomy - 319000 |
|---|---|
| Posting Open Date | 03/21/2023 |
| Application Deadline | 03/24/2023 |
| Open Until Filled | No |
| Position Type | Postdoctoral Scholar |
| Position Title | SOAR Research and Instrument Support Postdoc |
| Vacancy ID | PDS003786 |
| Full-time/Part-time | Full-Time Temporary |
| Hours per week | 40 |
| FTE | 1 |
| Work Location | Chapel Hill, NC |
| Position Location | North Carolina, US |
| Hiring Range | Salary is commensurate with education and experience. |
| Proposed Start Date | 05/16/2023 |
| Estimated Duration of Appointment | 12 Months |
Position Information
| Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit | Our primary mission is providing instruction of the highest quality in physics and astronomy to undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-CH. Training in physics is fundamental among the natural sciences because it provides understanding of the forces governing the structure of matter, from subatomic particles to the large-scale structure of the universe. Our departmental instructional mission spans all segments of the student community. Over 60% of all college graduates from UNC-CH have taken a course in our department. Among them: undergraduate liberal arts majors who should master the power of quantitative reasoning; undergraduates seeking a degree in another of the natural sciences, who need physics as a foundation for their advanced scientific training; the small number of undergraduates who major in physics, to whom we provide broad and rigorous training. Our graduate education and research advances frontiers of knowledge at the two extremes of space and time, from the very small) the realm of particle physics) to the very large (the realm of astronomy, while expanding the boundaries of knowledge in the many subfields spanning length scales between. Forefront physics and astronomy research requires access to well-equipped laboratories and extensive computing capabilities; it also must be supported by comprehensive and accessible library collections. Again, in research at this advanced level, the bridging aspect of physics provides basic interdisciplinary insight for many other sciences. This instructional mission is supported by a strong managerial, administrative, and technical staff. Duties of these employees range from budget planning and management for the numerous research grants held by faculty in the department to maintaining course and student records. These activities are usually accomplished in a standard 40- hour week schedule. |
|---|---|
| Position Summary | The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of North Carolina welcomes applications for a new postdoctoral position to conduct independent research and provide SOAR instrument support. Ideally, we seek a talented scientist with experience in astronomical instrumentation, but candidates with extensive experience in observing, including the construction of data reduction pipelines, will also be considered. The selected candidate will have access to the department’s outstanding research facilities for their own research and will be expected to spend one-half of their time providing instrument support for the SOAR telescope, especially the Goodman Spectrograph constructed at UNC. This work will require spending time in in La Serena, Chile (up to 3 months). Responsibilities may include maintenance and upgrades to the hardware and software, documentation and new observer support, and the development of data reduction pipelines. Experience with IRAF, IDL, and LabVIEW will be especially useful. UNC has 60 nights guaranteed annually on the 4.1m SOAR telescope atop Cerro Pachon, Chile, and operates a state-of-the-art remote observing center on campus. The department is a partner with guaranteed nights on the 11m SALT telescope, and it runs a network of robotic telescopes (the PROMPT array in Chile, and Skynet globally). Our instrumentation labs built SOAR’s high throughput spectrograph, and we are engaged in other SOAR and large telescope instrument projects. |
| Minimum Education and Experience Requirements | Applicants must have received a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level research degree in astronomy, physics, or a related discipline, at the time of appointment. Graduate-student awardees who have not yet received their doctoral degree at the time of application must present evidence of having completed all requirements for the degree before commencing the Fellowship. The Fellowship is open to citizens of the United States and to English-speaking citizens of other countries. Qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, or national origin. Women and members of minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply. |
| Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience | Applicants must have received a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level research degree in astronomy, physics, or a related discipline, at the time of appointment. Graduate-student awardees who have not yet received their doctoral degree at the time of application must present evidence of having completed all requirements for the degree before commencing the Fellowship. The Fellowship is open to citizens of the United States and to English-speaking citizens of other countries. Qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, or national origin. Women and members of minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply. |
| Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience | The position is open to all research fields in astronomy and astrophysics. A proven record of professional accomplishments (peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations) is required. Research in theoretical astrophysics including numerical modeling that leads to new observational or instrumentation projects with SOAR is especially encouraged. |
| Special Physical/Mental Requirements | |
| Special Instructions | Applicants should apply online at https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/252465 , where they can upload their curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, summary of previous research and instrumentation experience (2 pages), and a description of research they would like to conduct (3 pages). Complete application materials are due by 3/24/23, with announcements expected shortly thereafter. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Questions about this position posting may be directed to Prof. Chris Clemens (clemens@physics.unc.edu). The position is originally for one year, renewable by mutual consent for a period of up to 3 years. For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here |
| Quick Link | https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/252465 |
Posting Contact Information
| Department Contact Name and Title | Chris Clemens, Professor |
|---|---|
| Department Contact Telephone or Email | clemens@physics.unc.edu |
| Postdoctoral Affairs Contact Information | If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity office at (919) 966-3576 or send an email to equalopportunity@unc.edu. Please note: The Equal Employment Opportunity office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status. |
| Equal Opportunity Employer Statement | The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran. |
*Please mention you saw this ad on AcademicJobs.*
