IAC POSTDOCTORAL POSITION GOYA

The IAC (Tenerife, Spain), a leading astrophysical research center in Spain, invites applications for ONE postdoctoral research position associated to the projects “Extragalactic HII Regions” (311086) and “Planetary Nebulae” (311585).

Research topics at the IAC include most areas of astrophysics: cosmology and the structure of the Universe, galactic astrophysics, the structure and evolution of stars, the interstellar medium, solar physics, telescope design and construction, high spatial resolution techniques, infrared and optical instrumentation, and astronomical space projects. The IAC also leads the scientific teams responsible for the Day One instruments of the 10.4m GTC segmented telescope (http://www.gtc.iac.es), as well as their scientific exploitation. Further information about the IAC's research program, its observatories and the GTC is available on the IAC's Web site (http://www.iac.es/).

The main purpose of the position is to work as post-doctoral researcher within the framework of the Extragalactic HII Regions and Planetary Nebulae projects, on the updating of the calculation code (Nebular) of chemical abundances (http://stsdas.stsci.edu/nebular/), from the intensities of photo-ionized gas emission lines. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with the author of the code, Dick Shaw, in order to migrate it from its present environment (Iraf) to a more adequate environment (based on Python) which has a better graphic interface, with the goal of making it VO compatible and thus serve the entire community in any environment.

The postdoctoral researcher will also update the atomic parameter database to make the abundance calculations more reliable. The number of emission lines to be analysed will be increased, including those to be observed in the infrared, both by Earth-based and space telescopes. The implementation of the calculation of abundances with recombination lines, both from Helium and other heavy elements will also be considered. The new code will eventually be applied to several astrophysical objects such as the HII regions and planetary nebulae (including SPITZER IRS data).

The program will be as follows: The candidate will update the database of the atomic parameters, as well as migrate the code to an environment which is more convenient for the user (most likely based on Python); The candidate will expand the code in order to include recombination lines in the optical range, as well as collisional excitation lines in the near, mid and far infrared; The candidate will apply the calculation code of abundances in different astrophysical environments, such as the HII regions and planetary nebulae.

Special consideration will be given to those candidates with: Experience in the calculation of chemical abundances in photo-ionized regions.Experience in programming and scripting languages (FORTRAN, C, Python)

Doctorate: Applicants must have a PhD in Astrophysics or Physics and the doctoral certificate at the moment of starting their appointment which will take place during the first semester of 2008.

NOTE: Applicants who prepared their theses at the IAC must present written evidence of having spent one continuous year, or 18 accumulated months, in other research institutes.

Remuneration: The gross annual salary is 33.422,54 € per annum, subject to up to 20% tax and Social Security deductions. Medical insurance under the Spanish National Health Service will be provided, and will also cover your accompanying partner and children (if relevant).

Non-UE citizens: If you are citizen of a country not belonging to the European Union, you are not allowed to sign any contract with the IAC until you obtain the compulsory documentation required to live and work in Spain (Visa, Residence Permit, Work Permit Waiver). Please contact the Spanish consulate in your country for details.

Applications must be sent (electronic submission preferred) to the Secretariat of the Research Division, secinv@iac.es. Applications may also be sent by post, however, applications received after the deadline cannot be accepted, unless they are post-stamped, on the application form, by the postal office, before the deadline. Please note that the stamp on the envelope is not valid. Postal address: Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, C/ Via Láctea s/n, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.

Details of the evaluation and selection process for this position can be found in the official announcement (Spanish version only).