Faculty of Technology
Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation
Postdoctoral Researcher in IFU Galaxy Evolution
Fixed term contract for 2 years with a possible 3rd year extension contingent upon progress and funding
Employment type: Fixed term
Employment basis: Full time
Salary: £27,578 - £31,020
Closing date: 5th February 2013
Interview dates: tbc
The Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG, www.icg.port.ac.uk) intends to appoint a Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy and data processing development to support its research in the Faculty of Technology at the University of Portsmouth.
The successful applicant will work on the upcoming project Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA), which is part of the fourth generation Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to be conducted on the Sloan 2.5m Telescope. MaNGA is an optical fiber-based multi-object IFU that will target 10,000 galaxies over a 6 year campaign with a scheduled first light in autumn 2014. MaNGA will allow the internal kinematics and spatially-resolved properties of stellar populations and gas inside galaxies to be studied as a function of local environment and halo mass for the very first time. The successful candidate will participate in the development of MaNGA's data processing software and in the scientific analysis of MaNGA data with Dr Daniel Thomas, Dr Karen Masters and other MaNGA team members at the ICG and within the SDSS collaboration.
The ICG consists of 11 academic staff, 19 postdoctoral researchers and 20 PhD students, and is a member of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS-III and SDSS-IV), the Dark Energy Survey, the UK Low Frequency Array (LOFAR:UK) and the UK National Cosmology Supercomputer Consortium (COSMOS). The University of Portsmouth is a member of the South-East Physics Network (SEPnet) and hosts the 1000-core SEPnet-ASTRO supercomputer (SCIAMA). More information is available at http://www.icg.port.ac.uk.
A PhD in astronomy or physics is required. Experience with data processing of large data sets and software development is preferable, and previous involvement in IFU observations and analysis will be considered an advantage. Experience with or interest in stellar population analysis and/or kinematics would be useful. Applicants should submit an application form, a curriculum vitae, bibliography, and a statement of research interests through the online application system at http:/www.port.ac.uk/vacancies by the closing date 15th January 2013. They should further arrange for three reference letters to be sent by email to icg-admin@port.ac.uk, to arrive by 15th January 2013. Late applications may be considered until the post has been filled.
The start date will be 1st September 2013, or as soon as possible thereafter.
For informal enquiries please contact Daniel Thomas or Karen Masters via email at (daniel.thomas@port.ac.uk or karen.masters@port.ac.uk) or by calling +44 (0)23 9284 5151.
For more detailed information about this vacancy, please select this link:
10006876 Postdoctoral Researcher in IFU Galaxy Evolution.docx