ISAAC NEWTON GROUP OF
TELESCOPES
LA PALMA, CANARY
ISLANDS
MARIE CURIE
FELLOWSHIPS – EU FUNDED POST
CVN ref: LP5/01 Closing date: 12 November 2001
The Isaac Newton
Group of Telescopes (ING) expects to appoint one or two fellows under the
European Commission's Marie Curie Development Host Fellowship scheme, in the
area of exploiting and optimising Adaptive Optics techniques for astronomy.
The UK/NL ING is
based on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma, where it operates the 4.2-m
William Herschel Telescope, the largest and most advanced optical telescope in
Europe, the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope and the 1-m Jacobus Kapteyn
Telescope. They are located in a
multi-national observatory site, el Roque de Los Muchachos, at an altitude of
2,400 metres. The ING is pursuing a
vigorous optical and IR Instrumentation development programme concentrating on
the areas of wide field astronomy and Adaptive Optics. Recently we have seen
the highly successful debut of the new IR camera, INGRID and the delivery and
commissioning of NAOMI, the natural guide star adaptive optics system, both on
the WHT. An AO coronographic facility
and an integral field spectrograph are also under development.
DUTIES
The successful
candidate is expected to participate in the operation and development of the
telescopes, with a clear focus on the exploitation of Adaptive Optics
instrumentation and techniques for astronomy. A key objective of this
fellowship appointment is the transfer and advancement of specialist knowledge
in Adaptive Optics techniques. Therefore the postholder will be expected to establish
links with development teams elsewhere, participate in development projects,
and carry out AO observations for his/her personal competitive research
programme. The appointment provides excellent opportunities to gain significant
experience with a world-class AO system, and gain expertise in the rapidly
developing field of adaptive optics for astronomy.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE
Candidates should
have, or be about to complete, a PhD in a relevant field, e.g., astronomy or
astronomical instrumentation, in any case with a strong interest in
astronomical instrumentation. The ability to work effectively with engineering
staff to diagnose and solve technical problems, plus a strong and competitive
research programme are also essential requirements.
FURTHER
INFORMATION
Briefly, rules of
the programme require that candidates be under the age of 35 at the time of
appointment and that these posts should be open only to nationals of a European
Community Member State (or an associated country), other than Spain, or have
resided in the Community for at least the last five years. In addition
candidates should not have been resident in Spain for more than 12 months in
the two years prior to appointment. Salary is fixed at approximately 3700 Euro
per month for the duration of the contract which is expected to last for
between 12 and 24 months, subject to negotiation with the successful
candidate(s). For further information
about the ING please visit our web pages http://www.ing.iac.es
APPLICATIONS
Applications,
including a CV, publication list, a statement of research interests and two
letters of recommendation should reach the Isaac Newton Group by 12 November
2001. They should be addressed to;
Personnel Officer, Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, Sea Level Office, Apartado
de Correos 321, 38700 Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain. Informal enquiries may be
addressed to the Head of Astronomy, Dr Danny Lennon (djl@ing.iac.es). The ING is an Equal
Opportunities Employer.
This vacancy is being advertised externally and across PPARC.
Lucy Lawler October 2001
Personnel Officer