Scientist

SOAR is a 4m telescope located on Cerro Pachón - La Serena, Chile. With excellent image quality, it is equipped with several instruments, including optical and near-infrared spectrographs and imagers, and a Ground Layer Adaptive Optics system. In Cerro Tololo, the 4m Blanco telescope operates the optical Dark Energy Camera (DECam) and the near-infrared NEWFIRM wide-field imagers. Both telescopes will have an important complementary role during Rubin’s LSST operations, including rapid response to transient events.

The essential service functions include assisting users of the SOAR and/or Blanco telescopes in defining their observing programs, introducing observers to the telescope and instruments, developing documentation for software and astronomical equipment as needed, and participating in calibration and testing of instrumentation and telescope subsystems. Additional service functions may include participation in the development of new capabilities for these telescopes.

NOIRLab recognizes the excellence that diversity brings to our research, operations, and community support. We continually seek to broaden participation on our staff and strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply. All NOIRLab staff are funded to spend up to 3% of their time on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) activities of their own initiative or as part of existing NOIRLab programs.

**Requirements**:
Minimum Requirements:

- PhD in Astronomy, Physics, Planetary Science, or a closely related field and at least two years of research or instrumentation/observatory experience post-PhD.
- Fluency in English is required; bilingual capability in Spanish is an asset.

**Physical Demands**:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The work is mostly carried out in an office environment. Long periods of sitting and computer usage may be required.
- Travel may be necessary in or outside the contiguous United States.
- benefits-guide/

**To Apply**:
To apply, please submit:
(1) A Cover Letter describing your interest in the position and related experience, including any specific support interests.

(2) Curriculum Vitae or resume with a bibliography.

(3) Statement summarizing your most important research contributions and proposed program of research at NOIRLab.

Please limit the research statement to 3 pages, and submit all documents as PDF files, named with the following format: Lastname_Docname.pdf (where Docname is CoverLetter, CV or Resume, or Statement).

Please also append a list of 3 professional references, with contact information, to your Cover Letter. References will be contacted at a later stage in the recruitment.

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of 49 US institutions and 3 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories for the National Science Foundation and NASA. AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. In addition, AURA is deeply committed to public and educational outreach, and to diversity throughout the astronomical and scientific workforce. AURA carries out its role through its astronomical facilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)