SALT Astronomer at NRF National Research Foundation

About the position

Postion Summary:
The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), on behalf of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) Foundation (Pty) Ltd, is seeking qualified candidates for the position of SALT Astronomer. The position will initially be for a period of three years, with the possibility of an extension.

Key Responsibilities:

• SALT Astronomers (SAs) are based in Cape Town and work within the SAAO science staff structure
• The main responsibilities for this position will be:Conducting service observing (about one week in six) on the queue-scheduled SALT, Preparing and scheduling observations on behalf of the SALT users,Liaising with SALT users, Performing and managing pipeline data reductions, Writing and developing software to support SALT Astronomy Operations, Depending on background, serving as an instrument scientist for a SALT instrument or instrument mode, Conducting their own research, for which personal research time and resources, using SALT and other SAAO facilities, will also be available on a competitive basis,Student supervision and/or lecturing are also strongly encouraged, as well as active participation in the scientific and functional life of the Observatory

Minimum Qualification:

• Doctoral Degree / NQF 10

Minimum Experience:

• 0-1 years

• PhD in Astronomy or related field

Experience:

• Post-doctoral experience in optical and/or NIR observational astronomical research and relevant data reduction packages
• Optical and/or NIR observational experience

Knowledge:

• Proven ability to carry out own astronomical research

Additional Notes:
DESIRABLE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL QUALITIES5 years post-doctoral observational and research experienceExperience in high precision radial velocity and/or exoplanet researchExperience with the use of IFUs and analysis and publication of such data Instrumentation and/or software development experience, such as data reduction pipelines or web-based [URL Removed] in any of the following programming languages:PythonMySQLLabVIEWJavaStudent supervision and/or lecturing [URL Removed] to work on their own and as part of a teamExcellent written and oral communication skills in EnglishInterest in PR and outreach, using social media or otherwise, is also an [URL Removed] should send a cover letter, a brief statement of a research plan and a copy of their CV by registering and submitting their application on [URL Removed] and arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to Dr. Encarni Romero Colmenero ([Email Address Removed]) and SAAO HR Manager, Linda Tobin ([Email Address Removed]) . For further information please contact Dr. Romero Colmenero at the above [URL Removed] NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant·s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

Desired Skills:

• Skilled in applied field of position
• Knowledge to be relevant
• Responsible in performing duties

About The Employer:

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is the National Facility for Optical and Infrared Astronomy of the National Research Foundation (NRF). Its headquarters are in Cape Town, while its telescopes are at Sutherland in the semi-arid Northern Cape. Distributed between the two sites, SAAO employs roughly 130 people, many of them scientists and engineers, and is contracted to operate the 10-m Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), on behalf of the international SALT Foundation. SAAO is the premier optical/infrared research facility on the African continent, with global research and outreach collaborations and contributing human capacity development for South Africa. Research focus areas include extragalactic astronomy, time domain astrophysics, planetary astronomy and instrumentation development