Job Title

Job No.

Center

Location

Date Posted

Postdoctoral Research Associate     

891

NOAO

La Serena, Chile

03/19/2008

Applications received prior to May 18, 2008 are assured of full consideration; however, we will accept applications until the position is filled

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) invites applications for a research postdoctoral position based at NOAO-South, in La Serena, Chile. NOAO is the national center of the United States for nighttime ground-based astronomy. Our mission is to provide merit-based access to an optimized system of high-performance observatories for the benefit of the entire astronomical community.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development and use of fast and efficient statistical algorithms for use in astronomy as part of the International Computational Astrostatistics Group (www.incagroup.org).

New instruments coming to NOAO-South include the Dark Energy Camera (DECAM) being built for the Blanco 4-meter telescope and to be used for the Dark Energy Survey (www.darkenergysurvey.org) Similarly, NOAO-South will be the location for the Large Scale Synoptic Telescope (LSST) (www.lsst.org). Both of these experiments present interesting computational and statistical challenges for astrophysicists. NOAO is also a significant participant in the U.S. Virtual Observatory facility. The successful applicant will have opportunities to work on all of these projects.

NOAO–South scientific staff members work in a variety of research topics, including large scale structure, supernovae, stellar populations, galaxy evolution, stellar evolution, chemical evolution of the galaxy and active galaxies.

The position is based at the AURA campus in La Serena, Chile, which includes the offices of CTIO, SOAR, and Gemini-South, with the offices of Las Campanas Observatory next door. The working language is English. Staff members have excellent benefits and living conditions, a cost-of-living allowance, an educational stipend for dependent children, support for Spanish lessons, international health care benefits, and annual travel to point of hire. Bilingual education for children is available at the International School of La Serena which was co-founded by and is still supported by AURA. The city of La Serena is a major seaside tourist destination in South America.

Applicants will be considered for hiring at the postdoctoral level with appropriate qualifications and experience. A Ph. D. in astronomy is required, unless the applicant has a Ph. D. in either computer science or applied statistics with evidence of astronomy expertise. Applicants should have experience in programming languages like C and C++ as well as scripting languages like Python, IDL, R.

Applicants should electronically submit a curriculum vitae, a statement of current professional interests, and the names of three references.

When applying for this position please refer to the job title and job number. Electronic submission preferred.

Send resume to:

Human Resources Office
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
P.O. Box 26732
Tucson, Arizona 85726-6732
Email: hrnoao@noao.edu
FAX: 520-318-8494

NOAO and NSO are affirmative action and equal employment opportunity employers. Preference granted to qualified Native Americans living on or near the Tohono O'Odham reservation.

NOAO and NSO foster a diverse research environment. Women and candidates from under represented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.