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Advert. no. 2016_0032
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Working at ESO

Are you interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment? Do you feel your profile matches our requirements? Learn more about our current vacancies and apply online. Read more..

The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere awards several postdoctoral fellowships each year. The goal of these fellowships is to offer outstanding early-career scientists the opportunity to further develop their independent research programmes in the exciting scientific environment of one of the world's foremost observatories.

 

ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe. Its approximately 110 staff astronomers, 40 Fellows and 50 Ph.D. students conduct frontline research in fields ranging from exoplanets to cosmology, offering one of the most vibrant and stimulating scientific settings anywhere in the world.

 

Fellowship Programme Chile 2016/2017

Santiago

Vacancy closed on 15/10/2016

Deadline 15/10/2016

The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere awards several postdoctoral fellowships each year. The goal of these fellowships is to offer outstanding early-career scientists the opportunity to further develop their independent research programmes. ESO Fellows return to the scientific community with the insights and experience gained from working at one of the world's foremost observatories.

ESO is the leading intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe. Its approximately 110 staff astronomers, 40 Fellows and 40 Ph.D. students conduct frontline research in fields ranging from exoplanets to cosmology, offering one of the most vibrant and stimulating scientific settings anywhere in the world.

Fellowships are available both at ESO's Headquarters in Garching near Munich, Germany, and at ESO's astronomy centre in Santiago, Chile.

ESO Headquarters is situated in one of the most active research centres in Europe, boasting one of the highest concentrations of astronomers. ESO's offices are adjacent to the Max-Planck-Institutes for Astrophysics and for Extraterrestrial Physics and close to the Observatory of Munich's Ludwig-Maximilian University. Additionally, ESO participates in the Excellence Cluster Universe at the Garching campus, which brings together nearly 200 scientists to explore the origin and structure of the Universe. Consequently, ESO Fellows in Garching have many opportunities to interact and collaborate with astronomers at neighbouring institutes.

In Chile, Fellows have the opportunity to collaborate with the rapidly growing Chilean astronomical community as well as with astronomers at other international observatories located in Chile. The ALMA building next to ESO's Santiago offices and the many astronomers and fellows working on the ALMA project further enhance the stimulating scientific environment available to ESO Chile Fellows.

On both sites, ESO fellows are expected to actively participate in ESO's scientific life, for instance, by proposing and getting involved in the organization of scientific workshops, co-supervising PhD students, coordinating thematic research groups, joining scientific committees, organizing seminars, etc.

The fellowships in Garching start with an initial contract of one year followed by a two-year extension (three years total). In addition to developing their independent research programmes, ESO Garching Fellows will be expected to engage in some functional work, for up to 25% of their time, related to e.g., instrumentation, the VLT/I, ALMA, APEX, E-ELT, science operations support either in Garching or at one of ESO's observatories in Chile, software development, or public outreach. This provides the Fellows with the opportunity to get involved with ESO projects or operations, and to gather valuable insights and experience not available in any other setting.

The fellowships in Chile are granted for one year initially, with annual extensions for three additional years (four years total). During the first three years, the Fellows are assigned to one of the science operations groups of Paranal, ALMA or APEX, where they will contribute to the operations at a level of 80 nights per year. For ALMA fellows a fraction of their duties can alternatively be spent on data processing, participation in the ALMA review process as technical experts, software testing and optimization and extension of the array capabilities.

During the fourth year of Chile fellowships several options are provided. The Fellow may choose to spend the fourth year either at ESO's astronomy centre in Santiago, or at ESO Headquarters in Garching or at any astronomy/astrophysics institute in an ESO member state. There are no functional duties during the fourth year, except in the case that the fourth year is spent at ESO Chile, where fellows are expected to carry out functional work for up to 25% of their time. Under certain conditions, the fellow may also be hosted by a Chilean institution where she/he will be eligible to apply for time on all telescopes in Chile through competition for Chilean observing time.

The programme is open to applicants who will have achieved their PhD in astronomy, physics or a related discipline before 1 November 2017. Early-career scientists from all astrophysical fields are welcome to apply. While scientific excellence is the primary selection criterion for all fellowships, candidates should also explain (in their motivation letter) how ESO's facilities and their work at ESO would facilitate their scientific development. We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary and allowances (tax-free), comprehensive social benefits, and we provide financial support for relocating families. If you are interested in enhancing your early career through an ESO Fellowship, then please apply by completing the web application form available https://recruitment.eso.org/.

Please include the following documents in your application:

  • a cover/motivation letter;
  • a curriculum vitae with a list of publications;
  • a proposed research plan (maximum of two pages);
  • a brief outline of your technical/observational experience (maximum of one page);
  • the names and contact details of three persons familiar with your scientific work and willing to provide a recommendation letter. Referees will be automatically invited to submit a recommendation letter. However, applicants are strongly advised to trigger these invitations (using the web application form) well in advance of the application deadline.

The closing date for applications is 15 October 2016. Review of the application documents, including the recommendation letters, will begin immediately. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Candidates will be notified of the results of the selection process between December 2016 and February 2017. Fellowships will begin in the second half of 2017.

Further Information

For more information about the fellowship programme and ESO's astronomical research activities, please see:<http://www.eso.org/sci/activities/FeSt-overview/ESOfellowship.html>.

For a list of current ESO staff and fellows, and their research interests please see: <http://www.eso.org/sci/activities/garching/personnel.html>.

Details of the Terms of Service for fellows including details of remuneration are available at: <http://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/fellows>.

For further general information about fellowship applications, please see our Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ: <http://www.eso.org/sci/activities/FeSt-overview/ESOfellowship/ESOfellowship-faq.html>.

Questions not answered by the above FAQ page can be sent to:

For Garching: Eric Emsellem, Tel. +49 89 3200 6914, email: eric.emsellem@eso.org .

For Chile: Claudio De Figueiredo Melo, Tel. +56 2 463 3032, email: cmelo@eso.org .

Although recruitment preference will be given to nationals of ESO Member States (members are: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom) no nationality is in principle excluded.

The post is equally open to suitably qualified female and male applicants.

Contact us

Email vacchile@eso.org

ESO