Applications are invited for an INTEGRAL science support position in the High-Energy Astrophysics Group of the MPE.
The Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Garching (near Munich), Germany, is one of the world’s leading institutes in astrophysics, combining hardware development with observations, data analysis, laboratory and theoretical work. Among others, MPE is one of the contributing partners for the European (ESA) INTEGRAL Gamma-Ray Observatory satellite mission. The spectrometer on INTEGRAL (SPI), one of the two main gamma-ray instruments, is a collaborative project between CESR Toulouse and MPE as PI-institutes. MPE provided the anticoincidence system (ACS) of SPI.
The position / your qualification
Applications are invited for an INTEGRAL science support position in the High-Energy Astrophysics Group of the MPE. Researchers with a PhD in Physics/Astrophysics and with experience in high-energy astrophysics are encouraged to apply. The overarching task is to support the operation of the SPI instrument, including the regular annealings, monitoring the instrument health, maintaining the data and calibration archive at MPE, pre-processing of the SPI data to ease its scientific use by the German community, as well as continued development of scientific analysis software. Good programming skills are required. The candidate is expected to engage in one (or more) ambitious science project(s), preferentially including INTEGRAL/SPI data; up to 50% of the time is available for this part.
The position is funded through the German Space Agency (DLR). The position is available starting 1st August 2022 and will be for 2 years, with the possibility of extension depending on ESA’s extension of the INTEGRAL mission.
Our offer
The salary will be paid at German civil service rate (E14 TVöD Bund; gross annual pre-tax income including a Christmas gratification are currently in the range 60.000 EUR to 67.000 EUR, depending on post-doctoral experience). Social benefits are granted according to the regulations for public service.
Your application
Applicants should submit their documents (in English, and in PDF form) via our online application portal including a CV, a list of publications, and a brief (~1 page) description of research interests by 31st March 2022. Two letters of reference should also be sent to Jochen Greiner (jcg@mpe.mpg.de) by the application deadline. The review will begin immediately after that date, but later applications may be considered if received before the selection process is completed.
Informal scientific enquiries about the position may be addressed to Jochen Greiner jcg@mpe.mpg.de.
The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.