Postdoc position - Exoplanets and Astrobiology

The IAC (Tenerife) invites applications for ONE postdoctoral contract to work on topics within the project “Exoplanets and Astrobiology”, led by Dr. Enric Pallé.
 
Research topics at the IAC include most areas of astrophysics: solar physics, planetary systems, stellar and interstellar physics, galaxy formation and evolution, and cosmology and astroparticles. These research lines are supported by an ambitious instrumentation program. The IAC has been selected as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence by the Spanish Government in 2015, a prestigious recognition awarded for the second time to the IAC as a leading research institute in Spain. Further information about the IAC's research programme, its Observatories and the 10.4m GTC is available at the IAC's web page (http://www.iac.es).

 

Duties

The selected candidate will pursue research related to one or several of the following fields:

• Exoplanet atmospheres via high-resolution spectroscopy using HARPS-N+GIANO, CARMENES and ESPRESSO spectrographs.
• Finding and characterizing new transiting exoplanets from space with TESS and CHEOPS.
• Ground-based follow-up of the TESS mission.
• Biomarkers and habitability of earth-like planets

 

Position requirements

The candidates must have an established track record of research and a strong publication record in the field of Exoplanets. In particular, experience within the field of exoplanet atmospheres detection, via low or high-resolution spectroscopy, will be well received.

The IAC participates in the GTO time of the CHEOPS, CARMENES and ESPRESSO projects, in which the selected candidate is welcome to participate, and for which adequate experience will also be valued. The group is also heavily involved in follow-up efforts for the TESS mission, with hundreds of dedicated telescope nights. We expect the successful candidate to lead some of these efforts and participate in the broad research conducted within the “Exoplanets and Astrobiology” working group.

 

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must have obtained a Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics or Physics, within the application deadline (September 30, 2018). A copy of the degree or corresponding stamped certificate (issued by the University where the degree was obtained), must be included. Applicants who have not completed their Ph.D. degree within the application deadline will not be considered.

 

Selection stage

The selection process will consist of two stages: a merit assessment phase and an interview.

In the merit assessment stage, the Selection Committee will verify and rate the merits documented by the applicants. The maximum score that can be awarded for the assessment of merits will be 80 points, which will be calculated as the sum of the scores obtained in each of the sections.
 
A) Maximum score: 60 points

• Scientific and technical contributions to the field of research.
• Scientific publications, in quality and quantity, listed in the Science Citation Index (SCI conference contributions; teaching tasks, participation in scientific committees, membership of scientific conference committees, conference organization, journal refereeing, and stays at other research centres.
• Every career stage since the defence of the doctoral thesis will be taken into consideration

 
B) Maximum score: 20 points

• Adequacy of the candidate’s training and experience for the contract applied for
• Transmission spectroscopy, from ground or space, at low and high-spectral resolution
• Experience in dealing with ground-based or space-based photometric data reduction and transit fitting.
• Detection of extrasolar planets via radial velocity measurements.
• Good communication skills
• Data programming in Python or similar.

Method of accreditation for both sections: Report on the technical and research activity carried out, accompanied by documentation that proves what was stated in it.

C) Interview. Maximum score: 20 points

Candidates who have obtained the minimum score to pass the first phase (50 points) will be called to the second assessment phase at a specific time and date. The second phase will consist in an interview that can take place either in person at the IAC headquarters or using internet communication software (e.g., skype or zoom) that allows voice and image transmission.

During the interview, the candidates will present, for a maximum of 20 minutes, their vision about the adaptation of their professional profile to the position applied for and the development of their research activity if awarded the contract. The Selection Committee may then ask questions about the contents of its presentation and any other aspects that they deem relevant.

The presentation may be in either Spanish or in English.

In this exercise a score of 0 to 20 points will be awarded, of which:

• Up to 10 points, correspond to the adaptation of the professional profile to the specialty of the contract awarded.
• Up to 10 points, correspond to the candidate's vision of the future and planned research activity in the position applied for.
• To pass this second phase a minimum score of 15 points will be necessary.
• To pass the selective process, it will be necessary to obtain a minimum score of 65 points.

In order to ensure the effective equality of opportunity for men and women, in pursuance of the provisions of the IAC's Second Plan of Equality, and to ensure that certain documented circumstances of candidates do not prejudice the success of their application, the following special circumstances will be taken positively into account:

• Maternity leave, up to 18 months after the date of birth or adoption.
• Paternity leave, as provided for by Social Security, for the duration of the corresponding permit.
• Severe illness or accident with medical leave for a minimum of 3 months.
• Care of dependents for a minimum period of 3 months, as provided for by Law 39/2006.
• Work permits for the care of dependent children or adults. 

 

Training

Those candidates who have done their Ph.D. research at the IAC must have undertaken a period of training in other research centres. This period must consist of either one continuous year or 18 accumulated months (including periods of training during their doctoral period).
 
 

Duration

The appointment will be for a period of 2 years. The starting date is expected to be during the fourth quarter of 2018.
 
 

Remuneration

The gross annual salary is 33,547 Euros, subject to up to 20% income tax and Social Security contributions (depending on the personal situation of the candidate). Medical insurance under the Spanish National Health Service will be provided for the candidate and will also cover spouse or registered partner (de facto partner) and children (if relevant).
 
 

Relocation allowance

This call includes a relocation allowance (for the appointed candidate only) comprising: the cost of the flight ticket (booked and issued by the IAC), temporary accommodation for up to two weeks (organized by the IAC) and a per diem rate up to two weeks. The allowance cannot exceed the amount of 2,500 Euros.
 
Non-UE citizens: Applicants who are not citizen of a country belonging to the European Union are invited to apply for this position, but, if selected, will be allowed to sign the contract with the IAC only after obtaining the compulsory documentation required to live and work in Spain. 
 
 

How to apply

The required documentation must be submitted using the online application system, and received by the application deadline. Alternatively, candidates may follow the instructions in the official announcement (in Spanish only).
 
The following documentation will be sent in in a single file in PDF format:

• Application form (Annex I, duly completed and signed)
• Curriculum Vitae, including publication list
• Research activity report and statement of suitability for the position (maximum of 2 pages)
• Copy of the Ph.D. degree certificate
• Copy of the national identity or passport

In addition, the names and e-mails of three scientists familiar with the work of the candidate must be indicated.

Late applications or those that do not include the mandatory Application Form (Annex I), will not be considered. In case of incomplete applications, the applicant will have a period of five (5) days, starting from the day after publication of the provisional list of accepted and excluded candidates, to provide the missing documentation.