College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences
The above full-time post is available on a fixed term basis for 36 months, with a start date around September 1st 2022. There can be flexibility around the start date. This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.
The post
The Astrophysics Group at the University of Exeter invites applications for a post related to the ERC project GAIA-BIFROST ("GAIA-BInaries: Formation and fundamental propeRties of Stars and planeTary systems", H2020 project 101003096). The goal of the project is to commission a short-wavelength, high-spectral resolution instrument at ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer and to carry out a large survey on young stars, binaries and planet-host stars to advance our understanding of star and planet formation.
We plan to recruit a fellow / software engineer to take charge of the instrument software that controls the BIFROST data acquisition & observing sequences and the communication with the VLTI infrastructure and related instruments. The role also includes adopting our data reduction pipeline and other software tools for data interpretation and modelling. Experience with Python and C is essential and knowledge of GTK is desirable. Depending on interest and experience of the candidate, a part of the time can be dedicated to work on interferometry science projects or to contribute to the preparation and execution of observing campaigns.
The successful candidate will join the newly established group on astronomical instrumentation at Exeter and benefit from rich opportunities to collaborate with local observation & theory experts and our international partners at Michigan, Leuven, Australian National University, Nice, and ESO. The post includes funding for computing & travel, and we are members of the CHARA consortium and have access to guaranteed time with MIRC-X. Depending on his/her profile, the candidate might act as lead scientist for the Exeter VLTI Expertise Centre and dedicate a small fraction of the time to supporting VLTI users.
About you
Applicants will possess a PhD in Astronomy, Engineering, or a related discipline, or expect to have earned one before taking up the position (or nearing completion for PDRA). The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in optical engineering, software development, and/or astrophysics research and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.
What we can offer you
The University of Exeter
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 and QS World University Ranking 2022). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017.
Our research income in recent years means we’re the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world’s most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today through this. 98% of our research is of international quality (2014 Research Excellence Framework). We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
With over 27,000 students and 6,400 staff from 180 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.
For further information please contact Prof. Stefan Kraus, e-mail s.kraus@exeter.ac.uk or telephone (01392) 724125.