The IAC (Tenerife, Spain), a leading Astrophysical Center in Spain, invites applicants for ONE Postdoctoral Researcher financed by the Spanish National Plan under the grant: “Consolider-Ingenio 2010. First science with the GTC: Spanish Astronomy in the vanguard of European Astronomy.” (CSD2006-00070-MEC).  The PI of the project is Dr. José Miguel Rodríguez Espinosa. More information on this project at  www.iac.es/consolider-ingenio-gtc

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 10.4 m GTC segmented telescope (http://www.gtc.iac.es), as well as their scientific exploitation. Further information about the IAC's research programme, its Observatories and the GTC is available on the IAC's Web page (http://www.iac.es/).

Main Tasks:  As a postdoctoral researcher, the selected candidate is expected to become an active member of the ALBA project, a multidisciplinary program aimed at studying Ly-alpha emitters at very high redshift using CIRCE at the GTC. ALBA is being carried out in collaboration between four working groups responsible for: (i) cosmological simulations (UB); (ii) models of massive stars in star forming regions (IAC); (iii) integration and commissioning of CIRCE (UF & UCM); and (iv) coordination and GTC observacional strategy (IAC).

In particular, the successful candidate should:

• Coordinate the tasks and facilitate the communication between the four working groups
• Characterize the specially designed narrow band IR filters
• Simulate observations of high-redshift galaxies with GTC/CIRCE/NB IR filters
• Design the data reduction pipeline
• Participate in the design of the ALBA science cases
• Help to elaborate Phases 1 and 2 of the GTC proposals
• Help to design the observing strategy and assess data quality - help to reduce/analyze the data
• Lead/co-lead various refereed as well as outreach publications

Highly valued:  The successful candidate should have sufficient knowledge of the physics of star forming regions and galaxy properties. She or he should also possess ample expertise on data reduction pipelines for infrared instruments, as well as on photometric and spectroscopic observational techniques of faint sources from optical through infrared wavelengths. Previous experience with instrumentation software will be highly valued. Finally, we require good interpersonal and communication skills.

Doctorate: You must have obtained your PhD in Astrophysics or Physics and have your doctoral certificate at the moment of starting your appointment

NOTE: Applicants who defended their thesis 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 34.405 Euros, subject to about 20% tax and Social Security deductions. Medical insurance under the Spanish National Health Service will be provided, extensive to your accompanying partner and children (if relevant).

Relocation grant: In the present call for applications we include a re-location grant for the successful candidate in which the following items are included: a flight ticket (booked and issued by the IAC), lodging for up to two weeks (organised by the IAC) and per diem for up to two weeks.  This grant will be limited to a ceiling value of € 2,000.

Duration: The contract will start as soon as possible and will last until the finalization of the project (31st October 2011).

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.

Compulsory documentation to submit:

• The Application Form: WORD or PDF;
• Curriculum Vitae, bibliography, brief statement of research interests, and a covering letter telling us about the skills you can bring to the job;
• A photocopy of your PhD Degree or certificate;
• At least two letters of recommendation must be sent (electronic submission preferred); directly by researchers or professionals familiar with your work, to the Secretariat of the IAC's Research Division: secinv@iac.es

For any additional information, please contact Dr. José Miguel Rodríguez Espinosa (jmr.espinosa at iac.es).

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