The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) expects to appoint a fellow 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 development programme in the area of Adaptive Optics with the recent delivery and commissioning of NAOMI, the natural guide star adaptive optics system on the WHT. A chronographic facility is also funded and due to be commissioned this year, while next year should see the delivery of an integral field spectrograph.
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 and in adaptive optics techniques. 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 12 months.
Applications, including a CV, publication list, a statement of research interests and two letters of recommendation should reach the Isaac Newton Group by 30th June 2002. 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.