The IAC (Tenerife, Spain), a leading Astrophysical Center in Spain, invites applicants for ONE Postdoctoral Researcher to work in the project “EST: The large Aperture European Telescope”, financed by the Spanish National Plan of Development & Research, within the framework of the project entitled “Solar Magnetism and High Resolution Spectropolarimetry” (AYA2007-63881), whose PI is Dr. Javier Trujillo Bueno. 

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/).

Tasks:  The main purpose of the position is the active participation in the technological development within the framework of the Engineering Systems work-package for the design of the telescope and its instrumentation.

The selected candidate, who will depend from the PI of the EST project; Dr. Manuel Collados Vera, and from the Technology Division of the IAC, will carry out the following tasks:

• Project configuration management: Technical requirements, interfaces, documentation and codification;
• Updating and control of the product tree;
• Data base of the project;
• Technical management of the design of the instruments for EST (WP7000);
• Production of the documentation related to the tasks assigned.

Highly valued: Specially valued are all those activities related to the development of astrophysical instrumentation and, moreover, those devoted to the study of the Sun.

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: Until 30th September 2010, starting during January 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 Dr. Manuel Collados Vera (mcv at iac.es).

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