Research Associate in CASU Data Science

Job title:

Research Associate in CASU Data Science

Company:

University of Cambridge

Job description

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 March 2026 in the first instance with good prospects for further extension subject to grant funding. The anticipated start date is 1st December 2024 or as early as possible thereafter.This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Astronomical Data Scientist to work within the Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit (CASU) at the Institute of Astronomy (IoA) as part of CASU’s spectroscopic analysis system development team.WEAVE, MOONS and 4MOST are major massively-multiplexed optical/NIR spectrographs currently under advanced stages of development, to be deployed on the 4.2-m William Herschel, ESO VLT and VISTA telescopes respectively. They will enable large, cutting-edge spectroscopic surveys to be undertaken across both hemispheres, observing millions of stars and galaxies during their initial multi-year survey periods. The CASU team has developed the spectroscopic pipelines for WEAVE and 4MOST and has responsibility for the final development, commissioning and operations of the data pipelines. CASU is developing the data flow system and housing the survey operations centre for MOONS.The successful candidate will join CASU’s software development team, developing novel scientific algorithms and applications in the areas of spectroscopic analysis and mining of the science data catalogues extracted from the pipelines. Responsibilities range from monitoring instrument health and scientific quality of the data, tracking progress of the surveys, to preparing for community observing campaigns and data releases. The role’s additional duties involve supporting computational infrastructure, coordinating with wider spectroscopic project teams and external science users, contributing to documentation and user manuals, and collaborating on research programs to optimise data interpretation and usage. There are also opportunities to participate in data analysis science under CASU’s broader astronomical and medical programmes.Applicants will have a Ph.D. in astronomy or a related field and have a strong computing and programming background. Candidates are expected to be familiar with the acquisition and reduction of data from astronomical facilities and with the use of database and web-based systems. Previous experience in the development of software for large-scale spectroscopic surveys is desirable. Experience and practical knowledge of Python to query databases, manipulate large datasets, visualise data and perform numerical and statistical analysis is a requirement. Experience in handling ‘big data’, machine learning and working in distributed teams, is useful. Systems engineering experience is also relevant for this position.Working at the crucial interface between the instrument and the scientific output, this role would encompass on-site commissioning and support for world-leading facilities such as WHT (WEAVE), VISTA (4MOST) and VLT (MOONS). The post-holder will be required to attend meetings both elsewhere in the UK and overseas.Salary will be on the Research Associate scale (grade 7, from £36,024 to £44,263). Appointment as a Research Associate (grade 7) is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted their thesis but not yet been awarded their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant and amended to Research Associate when the PhD is awarded. The Research Assistant salary (grade 5) falls within the range £32,982 to £33,966.Click the ‘Apply’ button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.Please indicate the contact details of three academic referees on the online application form and upload a full curriculum vitae (CV), list of publications, and a research statement (three A4 pages max, minimum font size 11), including a description of how your research expertise can be applied to the project. Please ensure that your referees are aware that they may be contacted by the Institute of Astronomy.The University of Cambridge is a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). DORA recognises the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scholarly research are evaluated. The University expects candidates to apply the principles of DORA when preparing their applications. We do not use journal level metrics when assessing the quality of research outputs. Applicants should not include journal level metrics, such as the Journal Impact Factor, anywhere in their application materials. More information about DORA, its principles and aims can be found at: .The application deadline is 23:59 BST on Friday 13th September 2024. Where applicable, referees will be requested to provide references by 30th September, 2024.Applications will be reviewed after the closing date and interviews are provisionally planned for: w/c 7th October 2024The anticipated start date of the appointment is 1st December 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.Informal enquires can be addressed via email to Dr Nicholas Walton: . If you have any queries regarding the application process please contact .Please quote reference LG42614 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The University thrives on the diversity of its staff and students. Applications from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome. See the further particulars for the detail of the family friendly initiatives on offer.The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.Further information

Expected salary

£29605 – 33966 per year

Location

Cambridge

Job date

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:09:22 GMT

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