Asgard/NOTT instrument scientist: exoplanet imaging and instrumentation (ref. BAP-2023-228)

13 May 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

KU Leuven

Research Field

Astronomy » Astrophysics

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Belgium

Application Deadline

19 May 2023 - 22:01 (Africa/Abidjan)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The spectral characterization and understanding of terrestrial exoplanets is currently one of the most ambitious and challenging long-term goals of astrophysics. All observing techniques with the potential to tackle this challenge face the same limitations: the overwhelmingly dominant flux of the host star and/or the lack of angular resolution. A very promising technical solution around these issues is nulling interferometry, which combines the advantages of stellar interferometry (high angular resolution) and coronagraphy (starlight rejection). With SCIFY (Self-Calibrated Interferometry For exoplanet spectroscopy), we aim at building Asgard/NOTT, a thermal near-infrared (3.8 microns) high-contrast nulling interferometric instrument for the visitor focus of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (http://denis-defrere.com/asgard.php ). We also contribute to the ongoing major VLTI facility upgrade within the GRAVITY+ collaboration. By pushing VLTI high-contrast capabilities to smaller inner working angles, it will be possible to carry out several unique exoplanet programs to study young Jupiter-like exoplanets at the most relevant angular separations (i.e., close to the snow line), better understand how planets form and evolve, and characterize exozodiacal dust disks. In the long term, the SCIFY project will be a cornerstone in the roadmap leading to the characterization of terrestrial exoplanets and the search for life beyond Earth (see LIFE project page). The SCIFY project is funded by the European Research Council and is hosted by the Institute of Astronomy at KU Leuven. Through an ERC-CoG grant (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/866070 ), the KU Leuven Institute of Astronomy is advertising a postdoc position to support the laboratory development of Asgard/NOTT. The postdoc will join the team as Instrument Scientist to support and supervise the development, optical alignment, characterisation, and optimization of the instrument in the laboratory. We are looking for a postdoc with a PhD in Physics, Astronomy or Optical Engineering with experience and interests in some of the following fields: Astronomical instrumentation in the infrared, interferometry, optical design and setups, and/or cryogenic instruments. The selected candidate will join the SCIFY team (currently 2 PhDs, 2 postdocs, 3 engineers) under the supervision of Prof. Denis Defrère and will work as part of an international network of collaborators. The Institute of Astronomy (IoA) of Leuven University in Belgium is a young and vibrant research group of some 50 scientists, engineers, and administrative staff (fys.kuleuven.be/ster), including 7 full-time and 3 part-time professors. The institute is an expertise center in stellar physics and is active in several international consortia and collaborations, involving telescopes at observatories worldwide and in space. Members of IoA have access to parallel computing facilities at Leuven University. The IoA is responsible for the organization of the 2-year Master in Astronomy & Astrophysics of the Faculty of Science and owns the 1.2m Mercator telescope at Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma Observatory, Canary Islands. The institute has a long tradition in instrumental, observational, and theoretical studies of stellar evolution.

Website unit

Responsibilities

As postdoctoral researcher you are responsible to complete the following major tasks:

• Take a leading role in the development, optical alignement, characterisation, and optimization of the instrument in the laboratory;
• Take a leading role internationally and perform research in the domain of instrumentation for interferometric exoplanet imaging;
• Be actively involved in the research team at the host institute, contributing to and extending their specific expertise domains;
• Build bridges that strengthen the collaboration between the host institutes of the consortium;
• Aim at excellence in your research, publish in outstanding journals and present your results at the main conferences in the field;
• Contribute to the development of scientific software with open access policy;
• (co-)Organise workshops throughout Europe, including in Belgium, to disseminate expertise and research results to the outside world to strengthen the international reputation of the research units;
• Supervise master and PhD students working on instrumentation for interferometric exoplanet imaging; with possible other minimal teaching duties in local master programmes
• Provide scientific and expert services and outreach in the institutes, towards society in general as well as to internal committees.

Profile

The postdoc applicant must hold a PhD in astrophysics or an equivalent diploma. The ideal candidates will have a strong instrumentation background, including expertise relevant for interferometric analysis (and the VLTI in particular). Prior experience with ESO-related projects and student supervision will be viewed positively by the selection committee. Proficiency in English is required. 

Offer

The selected Postdoc will be offered a postdoctoral scholarship of one year, with the possibility to extend it for one more year after positive evaluation. The salary will be commensurate to the standard scale for postdoc researchers in Belgium and will depend on the number of years of experience after PhD. The candidate must be in mobility conditions, i.e. not engaged in a principal activity (work, studies, etc) in Belgium for more than 24 months counting from three years prior to the starting date of the postdoctoral scholarship. The foreseen starting date shall be between September 1st, 2023 and October 15th, 2023 but can be negotiated. 

 

We further offer:

• Access to state-of-the-art infrastructure at the host institutes
• A stimulating research work environment where quality, professionalism and team spirit are encouraged with support for competitive grant applications;
• An attractive salary complemented with various extra-legal benefits;
• Flexible schedule and possibility to work occasionally from home;
• Refund of commuting expenses when using public transport or bicycle;
• The opportunity to interact with several world-class investigators as well as in Europe and abroad (through an established network and research consortia);
• All relevant work experience (public + private sector) will be considered when determining seniority.

 

 

Interested?

Your application should include:

- a bio sketch in which you demonstrate the added value as an academic researcher for the your core tasks of research and services in your past career and for their future activities, including five most important publications or realisations (maximum 2 pages);

- an extensive CV (including a complete publication list);

- a research plan with attention to the development of a research line and associated research team with an eye for collaboration with fellow researchers within the host institute. That research plan is preferably but not exclusively linked to the position profile stipulated above (maximum 2 pages). 

- contact information of 2 referees (no reference letters need to be send at this point).

 

You can apply for this job no later than May 19, 2023 via the online application tool

KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at [email protected] .

Requirements

Research Field

Astronomy » Astrophysics

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

KU Leuven

Country

Belgium

City

Leuven

Postal Code

3000

Street

Parijsstraat 72b

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60212207

Contact

City

Leuven

Website

http://www.kuleuvencareers.be

Street

Parijsstraat 72b Leuven

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED