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Postdoctoral Scholar - Active Asteroids

Employer
Northern Arizona University
Location
Arizona, United States
Salary
Salary Not specified
Date posted
May 12, 2022

View more

Position Type
Administrative, Academic Affairs, Research Administration
Employment Level
Administrative
Employment Type
Full Time


Postdoctoral Scholar - Active Asteroids

Location: Astronomy & Planetary Sciences
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 606263
Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Workplace Culture

NAU is a community devoted to student success and sustained by an unshakable commitment to our shared mission, vision, and values. We—faculty, staff, and administrators—thrive by combining our efforts and working side by side to further NAU's culture of excellence.



Job Description

The postdoctoral scholar will lead a data-intensive, scientific investigation designed to vastly increase the number of known Active Asteroids which includes participants from both NAU and other universities. There are only a dozen or two Active Asteroids known (main belt asteroids with comet- like outgassing) and they are poorly studied. It is not known if they are common or not because nobody has examined a dataset as large as what we propose, public archives of imaging data comprising several hundred terabytes of images and tens of millions of observations. These have deep, serendipitous detections of most of the known asteroids. This project will retrieve all images of these asteroids and then interface with Citizen Scientists to identify potential activity. Once the candidates are identified, we will use ground-based telescopes to confirm and study the nature of the activity.

This position requires the ability to travel to remote astronomical observatories is required. This includes international travel, driving on poorly maintained dirt roads, and working at high-altitude environments above 10,000 feet in elevation. Applicant must have to ability to lift and move heavy objects of up to 50 lbs.

Essential Functions

High Performance Computing Analysis - 35%
  • Applicant must have significant experience using high performance computing. Ideally this should include expertise in Python and Slurm workload management software.

Telesopic Observations and Analysis - 20%
  • Applicant must have experience using professional class ground-based telescopes (2 meter, 4 meter and 8 meter class) and analyzing their data using a variety of imaging analysis software.

Minor Planet Research - 15%
  • Applicant must have experience publishing and participating in research related to minor planets in the solar system in order to understand the project in the larger context of current minor planet research in the solar system.

Communication to Non-specalists - 15%
  • Applicant must be able to demonstrate the ability to interface with non-specialists about the scientific goals of current scientific research and how they can participate.

Dynamical Analysis - 15%
  • Applicant must have experience performing dynamical simulations to understand the lifetimes of minor body populations in the solar system and how they transition to other populations.


Minimum Qualifications

  • A PhD in Astronomy or Planetary Sciences.


Preferred Qualifications

  • Significant experience using high performance computing. Ideally this should include expertise in Python and Slurm workload management software.
  • Experience using professional class ground-based telescopes (2 meter, 4 meter and 8 meter class) and analyzing their data using a variety of imaging analysis software.
  • Experience publishing and participating in research related to minor planets in the solar system in order to understand the project in the larger context of current minor planet research in the solar system.
  • Experience performing dynamical simulations to understand the lifetimes of minor body populations in the solar system and how they transition to other population


Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Ability to demonstrate the skills to interface with non-specialists about the scientific goals of current scientific research and how they can participate.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

As of 12/10/21, the Safer Federal Workforce employee vaccination requirement is currently suspended pending the outcome of a federal court-issued injunction. This injunction has suspended the recent executive order issued by President Biden requiring all employees of federal contractors to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. For current status of the vaccine requirement and/or questions, please visit FAQs for Employee Vaccination Requirement.

Background Information

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Salary

Salary range begins at $60,000. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

FLSA Status

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

Benefits

Post-Doctoral Scholars are hired on a contract basis, renewable each fiscal year for a maximum of 4 renewals (5 years) according to terms of the Arizona Board of Regents' Conditions of Post-Doctoral Service. NAU offers an excellent benefit package to Post-Doctoral Scholars including generous health, dental and vision insurance; 10 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified family members. New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. Participation in NAU retirement plans is not available to Post-Doctoral Scholars. More information on benefits at NAU is available at the NAU HR benefits page.

Learning and Development

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days. If your position includes the supervision of a benefit-eligible employee, we offer the NAU Supervisors Academy for you to complete within your first 2 years.

Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Application Deadline

June 13, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the Human Resources website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process please contact the Office of Equity and Access at: 928-523-3312/TDD - 928-523-1006 or PO Box 4083, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

EEO is the Law Poster and Supplements

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.



To apply, visit https://hr.peoplesoft.nau.edu/psp/ph92prta/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=606263&PostingSeq=1


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