Research Scientist

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Job Summary

The Research Scientist will be involved with development for calibration and forward modeling of the DSA-2000 project. Calibration of the DSA-2000 will be carried out in real-time within the radio camera, simultaneously solving complex gains in multiple directions within the field of view of the telescope, within the framework of the radio interferometric measurement equation (RIME). Validation of the calibration performance and requirements (and other instrumental requirements) will involve full modeling of the response of the DSA-2000 radio camera to real-world conditions, including ionosphere, antenna effects, and terrestrial interference. Results of this “forward modeling” will be used to define requirements on hardware, antenna configuration, and processing algorithms.

The candidate can be based at either the Caltech campus or the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO), a world class facility operated by Caltech for research in radio astronomy, located near Bishop in central California. Remote work is acceptable, contingent on ability to effectively collaborate with colleagues at Caltech and OVRO. This role includes opportunities for growth through education and mentorship, as the project develops a user community. 

Essential Job Duties

• Responsible for the ongoing development of the calibration framework for the DSA-2000 and its integration with the real-time, streaming radio camera system. 
• Will manage the use of existing software to model the interferometric response of DSA-2000, including effects of antenna pointing errors, ionospheric propagation, and terrestrial interference.
• Will make recommendations on the requirements for all hardware and software design elements that affect quality of images produced by the radio camera system. 
• Will work in collaboration with the OVRO Director, OVRO staff, and key DSA-2000 personnel in a team-based environment. 
• Will travel to OVRO and Caltech, as needed, to collaborate with faculty and engineering staff. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in Astrophysics or related discipline (science/engineering/math).
• 3 years of experience with radio interferometric calibration or algorithm development

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the latest direction-dependent calibration techniques for radio interferometers. 
• Expertise in C/C++ or Python.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Contact information for three professional references