The IAC (Tenerife, Spain), a leading Astrophysical Center in Spain, invites applicants for ONE Postdoctoral Researcher to work in the “Anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background: Science with Planck” (AYA2007-68058-C03-01) project, whose PI is Prof. Rafael Rebolo López.

Research topics at the IAC include most areas of astrophysics: solar physics, cosmology and the structure of the Universe, galactic astrophysics, the structure and evolution of stars, the interstellar medium, 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/).

Particularly, the selected candidate will work within the framework of the Planck space mission, devoted to the following LFI activity :

• Analysis of the several astrophysical components of both the intensity and polarization Planck’s frequency maps. including the physical parameters of the primary and secondary anisotropies of the cosmological component as well as of the foreground maps (galactic and extragalactic synchrotron, free-free emission, thermal dust and anomalous emission).

Tasks:  The selected candidate will actively participate in the processing, analysis and interpretation of the data obtained with the Planck satellite, The researcher may travel often abroad to visit other centers of the Planck consortium, specially those sited in Europe.  The successful candidate will also participate in the analysis of the data obtained with the earth-based experiments of the IAC’s CMB group.

Doctorate: Applicants must have obtained the PhD in Astrophysics or Physics and have the doctoral certificate at the moment of starting their 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: Ten months, with the intention to start no later than January 2010, until de finalization of the project (31st October 2010).
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 Prof. Rafael Rebolo López (rrl at iac.es) or Dr. José Alberto Rubiño (jalberto at iac.es).

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