ALMA Post-Doctoral Fellow

ALMA provides the world-wide astronomical community with transformational capabilities to study the origin of galaxies, stars, and planets. ALMA started its first Early Science observations in late 2011 and has lead to the publication of more than 460 papers to date, many of them in influential journals. At the Cycle 4 Call for Proposals, ALMA received more submissions than any other telescope in history. The JAO is offering a postdoctoral fellowship position to join the ALMA science operations group in Santiago, Chile. The ALMA Postdoctoral Fellow will be appointed for a period of three years and will spend 50% of his/her time dedicated to personal scientific research. The remaining time will be spent in support of ALMA operations, including observing at the ALMA Operations Support Facility (OSF) near San Pedro de Atacama for hands-on interaction with the telescope. The goal of this fellowship is to offer young scientists the opportunity to enhance their research programs through involvement in science activities and interactions with experienced staff at the world's foremost observatory for sub-mm astronomy.

At present, there are over 40 scientists with a wide range of research interests working at ALMA in Santiago. The JAO also hosts regular visits from scientists from the ALMA Regional Centers (ARCs) in Europe, North America and East Asia. The ALMA office is located adjacent to ESO's Santiago office, and the offices of AUI/NRAO and NAOJ are located nearby. Fellows have the opportunity to collaborate with the rapidly growing Chilean astronomical community as well as with astronomers from other international observatories located in Chile. The ALMA Postdoctoral Fellow will be provided with resources for science trips and will be encouraged to visit one or more of the ARCs for science collaborations. The JAO runs a visitor program through which science collaborators can be invited to work in Santiago. The ALMA Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to lead a vigorous research program in any area related to the use of ALMA. The Fellow will also actively participate in and contribute to the science activities of the JAO.

The ALMA Postdoctoral fellow is expected to support ALMA science operations and will work in the JAO Department of Science Operations (DSO). S/he will perform duties as part of the large team of international scientists working at the JAO and in the ARCs.

The successful candidate will act as Astronomer on Duty at the OSF. A fraction of the technical duties can be spent on data processing, participation in the ALMA review process as technical expert, software testing, and development and testing of new capabilities of the array, among other technical activities necessary for the successful operations of the facility.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants shall fulfill the following requirements:

• PhD in Astronomy, Astrophysics or a related field
• Proven track record of excellent scientific research.
• Experience in millimeter Astronomy observations (single dish and/or interferometry) and in processing of radio astronomical data is an asset.
• Fluency in the English language (oral and written).
• Good interpersonal communication skills and ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team, including operators, astronomers and engineers.

Due to travel requirements and work at high altitudes, a successful high altitude medical check is a necessary condition of employment for this position.

STATION / LOCATION OF POSITION

Santiago Central Office, Chile, with frequent visits to the Operations Support Facility (OSF) near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

STARTING DATE

The successful candidate will be expected to start their fellowship before October 2017.

APPLICATIONS AND CONTRACTS

The ALMA Postdoctoral Fellow will be engaged to work at the JAO through one of the Executives: ESO, AUI/NRAO or NAOJ. Candidates should apply through the Recruitment Portal(s) of the ALMA Executive (ESO, AUI/NRAO, NAOJ) from which s/he would like to receive a contract offer. Only one ALMA Executive will send a contract offer to the most successful candidate.

Applications must be completed in English and should include a statement of scientific interests, an outline of research envisaged to be done over the next 3 years and its relevance to ALMA (maximum 3 pages 11pt including figures), as well as a CV with a list of publications. Candidates should provide three reference letters. Details of the application process and information about conditions and remuneration are provided in the Recruitment Portals of the ALMA partners: Applicants submitting their application to ESO are invited to apply online at http://recruitment.eso.org/

Applicants submitting their application to NRAO are invited to apply online at http://careers.nrao.edu.

Applicants submitting their application to NAOJ are invited to apply via e-mail to apply-alma-pdf20161230@nao.ac.jp

Deadline for receipt of applications to be considered is December 30, 2016.

For further information please consult www.almaobservatory.org, as well as the ESO, NRAO, and/or NAOJ

Home Pages http://www.eso.org, http://www.nrao.edu, or http://alma.mtk.nao.ac.jp/e/. ESO, NRAO, and NAOJ are Equal Opportunity Employers. The post is equally open to suitably qualified female and male applicants.