If you study the outer solar system (satellites, atmospheres, rings, etc.) and if you would like to dedicate some (or all) of your time to a job that enables not only your colleagues but also future generations to do planetary research, then please consider joining our team at the PDS Ring-Moon Systems Node!
Category: Rings
Planetary Astronomer and Archivist
If you study the outer solar system (satellites, atmospheres, rings, etc.) and if you would like to dedicate some (or all) of your time to a job that enables not only your colleagues but also future generations to do planetary research, then please consider joining our team at the PDS Ring-Moon Systems Node!
Planetary Astronomer
SETI INSTITUTE
Position Title: Planetary Astronomer
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports to: PDS Node Manager
Location: Mountain View, CA
The SETI Institute is seeking a Planetary Astronomer to support the work of the Ring-Moon Systems Node (RMS) of NASA’s Planetary Data System (PDS). The successful applicant will be an integral part of the RMS Node Team, which shares responsibility for archiving, augmenting, cataloging, and distributing key data sets from NASA’s missions to the outer planets. The PDS ensures that the entire community of planetary scientists has seamless access to NASA’s archive of planetary data. The RMS Node’s primary focus is on data sets relevant to planetary systems in the outer solar system, including the rings and moons of the outer planets, atmospheric research, and astrogeology. Our flagship service is the Outer Planets Unified Search (OPUS), which provides powerful and effective cross-mission, cross-target, faceted search based on accurate and consistent metadata and informative browse products.
The astronomer will focus primarily on expanding the coverage of OPUS to support additional data sets, including those from Galileo, New Horizons, Juno, and the Hubble Space Telescope. This challenging and rewarding role, which provides an important service to the planetary research community, requires both experience working with planetary data and skill at programming in Python, as well as familiarity with the SPICE toolkit.
Additionally, the astronomer will develop data processing pipelines to convert data sets currently archived with PDS into the more modern “PDS4” standard. Data sets for this task include Cassini UVIS, Cassini CIRS, and Voyager ISS.
Full-time funding from PDS is available for this role, but may be decreased to as low as half-time if the successful applicant prefers to work fewer hours or maintain partial salary funding from other projects. Indeed, the astronomer will be encouraged to seek additional research funding on any topic of their choosing including, but not limited to, topics related to the Node’s extensive data holdings.
The position offers exposure to a wide variety of NASA missions, remote-sensing instruments, and types of scientific data, as well as the opportunity to learn many technical skills. The successful applicant can expect extensive mentoring from existing team members so that they can be successful in this role as well as grow their career in exciting new directions.
Responsibilities:
- Understand and characterize the data and metadata associated with specific data sets that are targeted for incorporation into OPUS.
- In cooperation with other team members, define the relationships between the targeted data set’s metadata and existing OPUS search terms, determining whether any modification in the latter is needed.
- Develop new software and use existing Python-based and SPICE-based tools to construct a software pipeline that integrates the selected data set into OPUS.
- Develop data processing pipelines to validate existing data and metadata, and convert it into the new, modern “PDS4” standard.
- Participate in team discussions about the latest results in planetary astronomy and related fields.
Requirements:
- Experience with computer programming for scientific applications is required. Proficiency with the Python programming language is mandatory.
- Familiarity with the SPICE toolkit is strongly desired.
- Experience in scientific data analysis and in writing research papers for peer review is strongly desired.
- A Ph.D. or equivalent career experience is preferred, but candidates will be considered with a bachelor’s or master’s degree with substantial research experience in planetary astronomy, astrophysics, physics, or a closely related field.
- A personal and demonstrable scientific interest in planetary systems is highly desirable.
- Must be detail-oriented, proactive, and flexible.
- Should have the initiative to work independently and as a team player.
Apply here: https://www.seti.org/jobs/planetary-astronomer
Salary/Benefits: The SETI Institute provides competitive salary, excellent benefits including health/dental/vision insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care, vacation, and sick leave. The Institute sponsors a retirement plan option upon fulfillment of eligibility.
Diversity and Equity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
The SETI Institute is an Affirmative Action Employer and members of underrepresented communities and demographics are particularly encouraged to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ and people with disabilities.
Employment Details:
It is strongly preferred that applicants be prepared to establish residence in the San Francisco Bay Area by Spring 2022. The position is based in Mountain View, California. Applicants who cannot relocate will be considered, but this should be stated clearly in the application’s cover letter.
Planetary Astronomer
SETI INSTITUTE
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Planetary Astronomer
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports to: NODE Manager
Location: Mountain View, CA
Position Summary:
The SETI Institute is seeking a Planetary Astronomer to support the work of the Ring-Moon Systems Node (RMS) of NASA’s Planetary Data System (PDS). The successful applicant will be an integral part of the RMS Node Team, which shares responsibility for archiving, augmenting, cataloging, and distributing key data sets from NASA’s missions to the outer planets. The PDS ensures that the entire community of planetary scientists has seamless access to NASA’s archive of planetary data. The RMS Node’s primary focus is on data sets relevant to planetary systems in the outer solar system, including the rings and moons of the outer planets, atmospheric research, and astrogeology.
The astronomer will focus primarily on ongoing efforts to enhance the scientific usability of RMS data sets, which include those from the Cassini, Voyager, Galileo, and New Horizons missions, as well as those from the Hubble Space Telescope and Earth-based observatories. We seek a curious and creative individual who is eager to work with data from diverse instruments and missions. The curation of planetary data requires someone who is able to understand the data’s scientific importance, assess the data’s validity, converse knowledgeably with fellow scientists, and confirm that documentation and descriptive metadata are sufficient for the needs of current and future scientists.
The astronomer will collaborate closely with the Node Manager, Dr Matt Tiscareno, on all aspects of RMS Node planning and task management. They will understudy with longtime RMS Deputy Manager, Dr Mitch Gordon, and prepare to carry on his work as he approaches retirement.
This is a full-time position with full benefits. However, the astronomer will be encouraged to seek additional research funding on any topic of their choosing including, but not limited to, topics related to the Node’s extensive data holdings. The position offers substantial growth potential for applicants who are able to demonstrate mastery of the key requirements.
Responsibilities:
- Work with NASA’s planetary missions and other data providers on the design, preparation, submission, and peer review of archived data sets.
- Design and maintain PDS “dictionaries”, which are used to capture the key information about astronomical observations.
- Develop data processing pipelines to validate existing data and metadata, and convert it into the new, modern “PDS4” standard.
- Generate and assemble supporting metadata so the data products can be integrated into OPUS, our online search engine (see https://opus.pds-rings.seti.org).
- Work within the larger PDS community to develop and enhance archiving standards.
- Represent the Node at PDS working groups, project meetings, scientific meetings, and to NASA.
- Help with website content, hardware management, and research tool development.
- Participate in team discussions about the latest results in planetary astronomy and related fields.
Requirements:
- A Ph.D. or equivalent career experience in planetary astronomy, astrophysics, physics, or a closely related field.
- Experience in scientific data analysis and in writing research papers for peer review.
- A personal and demonstrable scientific interest in planetary systems is highly desirable.
- Experience with computer programming for scientific applications is required. Proficiency with the Python programming language is highly desirable.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Must be detail oriented, pro-active, and flexible.
- Should have the initiative to work independently and as a team player.
- Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
- Willing to accept major responsibilities and able to perform under pressure.
Diversity and Equity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
The SETI Institute is an Affirmative Action Employer and members of underrepresented communities and demographics are particularly encouraged to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ and people with disabilities.
Employment Details:
Applicants should be prepared to establish residence in the San Francisco Bay Area by the end of Summer 2021, within a comfortable commuting distance of Mountain View, California.
Research Associate Position
The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds (CEHW), at the Pennsylvania State University invites applications for a Research Associate in area of the formation, detection, and characterization of extrasolar planets. The successful applicant will work with Prof. Eric Ford in the analysis and the interpretation of data from NASA’s Kepler mission and planet formation theory. The position is for two years with a possibility of extension for one more year.
Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Astronomy and two or more years of postdoctoral experience, as well as a strong publication record including experience in the analysis of Kepler data, interpretation of transit timing variations, planetary orbital dynamics and the dynamics of dust grains in presence of gas, radiation and magnetic fields. Applicants should have significant programming experience, including C, Fortran, parallel programming, IDL, Perl and Unix shell scripts. Current information on research and other activities can be found at http://www.astro.psu.edu. Inquiries: Eric Ford [email protected].
Applications including a cover letter, a CV, statement of research interests, list of publications, and names of three references, should be sent to Ms. Heather Lowe, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802 or via email to [email protected] by April 11, 2014. We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to apply. Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce.
Research Associate
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN PLANETARY SCIENCE
We invite applications for a position as a Research Associate at Cornell University. This will support investigations into planetary ring processes, in particular the planning and analysis of imaging (ISS) and infrared (VIMS) observations obtained by the Cassini mission now orbiting Saturn. Our specific interests lie in structural and dynamical processes of Saturn’s rings, including its main and faint rings and small satellites. Candidates must have a PhD in the physical sciences (planetary science, astronomy, physics, geophysics, or related fields).
The initial appointment is for one year, but the appointment is renewable for at least an additional year. Review of applications has begun, but we will accept applications until September 30. The expected start date is later in fall 2013, but is negotiable.
Applicants should submit a resume, a one-page statement of research experience and interests, and names of three potential references to Lynda Sovocool ([email protected]), Human Resource Manager, 106 Space Sciences Bldg., Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853. Cornell University is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Section 504/ADA employer.
JOB DESCRIPTION: RESEARCH ASSOCIATE in Planetary Science
Research Associates at Cornell University are expected to carry out joint and independent research that will be published in the refereed literature. Candidates for this position should hold a PhD in planetary science, astronomy, physics, geophysics or related fields, and should be familiar with several software packages and preferably image processing. This individual will investigate planetary ring processes, through planning and analyzing imaging (ISS) and infrared (VIMS) observations obtained by the Cassini mission now orbiting Saturn. Specific interests lie in structural and dynamical processes of Saturn’s rings, including its faint rings and small satellites. The candidate will attend professional conferences and meetings of Cassini spacecraft science teams. Research associates may also participate with faculty in guiding the research of undergraduate and graduate students.
Research Associate
We invite applications for a position as a Research Associate at Cornell University. This will support investigations into planetary ring processes, in particular the planning and analysis of imaging and IR observations obtained by the Cassini mission. Our specific interests lie in structural and dynamical processes of Saturn’s rings, including its main and faint rings and small satellites. Candidates must have a PhD in planetary science, astronomy or physics.
The initial appointment is for a year, but is renewable for at least an additional year. Review of applications will begin August 15, 2013, and the position will remain open until filled. Start date is fall 2013.
Please submit a resume, a 1-page statement of research experience and interests, and names of three references.Cornell is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Section 504/ADA employer.