Postdoctoral Research Associate - NATIONAL OPTICAL ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORIES

No. 11981
Postdoctoral Research Associate
NATIONAL OPTICAL ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORIES
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
P.O. Box 26732
Tucson, AZ 85726

Attention: Sandra Abbey, Personnel Manager

Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO) has one or more postdoctoral research positions available immediately. We invite applications from observational astronomers interested in developing their career in a growing research environment with staff working on a wide range of topics including observational cosmology, stellar populations, star formation and evolution, development of adaptive optics, optical and infrared instrumentation. Local observing facilities will shortly include new 8-m (Gemini-South) and 4-m (SOAR) telescopes, together with the present 4-m (Blanco) and smaller facilities. The Blanco telescope will complement Gemini with wide-field imaging and spectroscopy, while the SOAR telescope will be equipped with a complementary suite of narrow-field, high-resolution, optical and infrared instruments. The telescopes are located on Cerro Tololo, 1 hr 15 min inland from the CTIO offices in the coastal city of La Serena, Chile at 2,200m altitude and on Cerro Pachon, at an altitude of 2,700m, approximately 30 min drive from Cerro Tololo. Staff members and postdoctoral researchers are each provided with a personal research grant to cover publication charges, travel to conferences, research equipment etc.

In addition to their own research, the successful candidate(s) will participate in and contribute to some aspects of NOAO-wide programs including support of observational facilities; interfacing with Gemini; participating in the development of new projects, including the next generation of telescopes; providing for surveys, archiving and data-mining; and developing instrumentation for NOAO and Gemini telescopes, including work on Adaptive Optics. One of the positions may involve a significant role in the management of CTIO's highly successful summer student programs, which include the NSF funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program and CTIO's Programa de Investigación en Astronomía. Commissioning of the 8-m Gemini telescope (http://www.gemini.edu), is near completion on Cerro Pachon, and construction work at the site of the SOAR 4-m telescope (http://www.soartelescope.org) is well advanced. CTIO, SOAR and Gemini share a single campus in La Serena.

The successful candidate(s) will work primarily in La Serena. The working language is English. Staff members have excellent benefits and living conditions, an overseas allowance, an educational stipend for dependent children, international health care benefits, and annual travel to the point of hire. Bilingual education for children is available at the International School of La Serena, which was co-founded and is supported by AURA. The city of La Serena is a popular seaside tourist destination in South America, with a climate very similar to San Diego, California. Review of applications will begin 1 June 2001, although we will continue to accept and evaluate applications until the position(s) is (are) filled. Applicants should submit a vita, statement of current research and professional interests, and the names and addresses of three references to: Sandra Abbey, Personnel Manager at the above address. AAE/EOE.

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