Head of the Instrumentation Projects Group
Ref0007 / Deadline: June 24, 2011 (14:00 h)
Cerrado / Closed
Offer Description
The Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmos de Aragón (CEFCA) has a vacancy for the position of Head of the Instrumentation Projects Group. The successful candidate will be responsible for supervising the successful development and commissioning of the instrumentation for the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ) telescopes.
CEFCA is a new Center for Astrophysics and Cosmology located in Teruel (Spain) which is in charge of the design and construction of the OAJ. The observatory, particularly designed for carrying out large scale surveys, will consist of two telescopes: JST250, a large-etendue 2.5m telescope with a FoV of 3 deg (diameter), and JAST80, a 80cm telescope with a 2 deg FoV. JAST80 and JST250 are due to be operative by end 2011 and mid 2012 respectively. Both telescopes will be equipped with wide field CCD cameras.
During the first 4 years of operation, JST250 will be devoted to complete the Javalambre-PAU Astrophysical Survey (J-PAS, see Benítez et al., 2009, ApJ, 691, 241), a photometric survey with a system of 54 narrow-band filters of 12nm width (from ~350 nm to ~1100 nm) plus several broad-band filters covering a total area of 8000 square degrees. This survey will provide unprecedented data to probe the equation of state of the Dark Energy through the analysis of Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations, Weak Lensing and Clusters of Galaxies, as well as for a manifold of scientific cases related with Galaxy Evolution, Supernovae, Milky Way structure, etc.
The work to be carried out by the successful candidate will be focused on the development of the two wide field cameras to be mounted on the JAST80 and JST250. These cameras are being designed to exploit the survey capabilities of the OAJ telescopes. The candidate will be the head of the instrumentation projects group at CEFCA. He/she will be responsible for supervising the design, development, integration and testing of the first light instrumentation for the OAJ, and to actively contribute to the scientific exploitation of the J-PAS data, particularly of those having a direct impact in Galaxy Evolution or Cosmology.
Terms and Conditions
| Previus Experience: | PhD in Astrophysics. Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years of postdoctoral experience, with a well proven background in Instrument Development. |
| Languages: | Fluent in English and Spanish. |
| Work Place: | CEFCA (Teruel) |
| Salary: | The salary will depend on the applicant experience, ranging from 35,000€ to 39,000€ per year. |
| Contract duration: | The appointment will be made until the beginning of normal operation of the OAJ and its first light instrumentation, scheduled for the end of 2013. The position is expected to become a permanent position well before the end of the contract, joining the CEFCA staff as the Head of the Instrumentation Projects Group. |
| Deadline: | 24/06/2011 (14:00 h) |
Applications
Applications consisting of 1) a full CV, 2) a statement of research interests, and 3) two reference letters, should be submitted by email (Subject: “Ref.007. Head of the Instrumentation Group”) to jobs@cefca.es, by the above deadline.
For further information, contact Mariano Moles (moles@cefca.es)