Department

PSD Astronomy & Astrophysics: Administration and Staff

About the Department

Scholars in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics play a vital role in advancing research that investigates the biggest questions in astronomy and astrophysics. The department is home to a wide array of fundamental research projects and is involved in many cutting-edge facilities. Research groups have access to leading telescopes worldwide, including the 6.5-m Magellan Telescopes at Las Campanas, Chile; the Dark Energy Survey at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile; and the South Pole Telescope, with its ongoing development of powerful new imagers for measuring the Cosmic Microwave Background. Departmental researchers also make use of several telescopes (Hubble, Kepler, Chandra, Fermi, and others) and are actively developing new programs for EUSO, POEMMA, JWST, WFIRST, TESS, SOFIA and LSST.

Job Summary

This position requires analyzing data from the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, measuring the distances to nearby galaxies using the Tip of the Red Giant Branch, carbon stars and Cepheid variables, and finally, contributing to the determination of the Hubble constant, the current expansion rate of the universe. This work is part of the Chicago-Carnegie Hubble Program, with an expectation of active involvement in the analysis of the data, performing artificial star tests, calibrating the photometry, and in writing up the results for publication.

Responsibilities

• Conduct rigorous research and innovate in the topics described in the Job summary. Write monthly findings in PowerPoint and word format for the PI to review.
• Conduct research and calibration of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data from the Space Telescope Science Institute.
• Complete Python programming to add to the software pipeline for the analysis of the data, specifically for the new JWST data with new detectors and point spread functions.
• Conduct artificial star tests and record results.
• Participate at conference when notable results are ready to be reported publicly, and the submission is accepted for a presentation.
• Organize and keep a neat physical lab notebook with entries for every day, with description of activities, samples made, characterization, and names of each new data file and location.
• Participate in weekly group meetings with prepared accounts of the week’s work.
• Write publishable findings into a manuscript for submission.
• Performs experiments and collects and analyzes data. Participates in the promotion of a research project.
• Participates in the preparation and writing of grant applications and reports, and co-authors/authors scientific research manuscripts. Provides peer review of grant applications and scientific manuscripts.
• May present work at scientific meetings.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a PhD in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics or Physics.

Experience:

• Experience in scientific research in astronomy or physics.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• High level of performance in Python computing.
• Expertise in analysis of Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope data.

Working Conditions

• Office environment.
• Sitting at a computer for extended periods of time.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)
• References (preferred)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

19

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

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FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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Pay Range

$32.00 - $40.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

This position is not eligible for benefits.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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