The IAC (Tenerife, Spain), the leading Astrophysical Center in Spain, invites applicants for ONE Postdoctoral Researcher for the external project financed by the Spanish National Plan entitled: “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. The chosen candidate will be incorporated into the IAC project: "Consolider-GTC" (3E3906) www.iac.es/project/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/).

Tasks: 

The successful candidate will work as postdoctoral researcher within the framework of the Consolider-GTC project, included into the EMIR project, and specifically engaged in the following tasks:

• Development of the proposal "Organisation and management of tasks of calibration in laboratory at system level and its later commissioning on the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC).
• Draft out the document "Proof plan, characterization and commissioning of the EMIR instrument.

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 prepared 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 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).

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: One year, starting during the second semester of 2009.

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. Francisco Garzón López (fgl at iac.es).

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