Post-doc position at Cape Town University

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Bruce Bassett
Posts: 26
Joined: November 24 2004
Affiliation: SAAO/UCT

Post-doc position at Cape Town University

Post by Bruce Bassett » May 06 2007

Observational Cosmology Post-doc based at Cape Town University

As part of a major investment strategy by the South African government in multi-wavelength astronomy that includes SALT (http://www.salt.ac.za),
HESS and KAT/MeerKAT (http://www.ska.ac.za) a joint UCT-KAT post-doctoral position has become available based in the cosmology group at the University of Cape Town.

All areas of observational/data-driven cosmology and radio astronomy will be considered but preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to/exploit South African large facilities (SALT/MeerKAT/CHPC) with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

* large radio astronomy surveys in the post-2010 era (MeerKAT)
* dark energy surveys (optical and radio; SALT and MeerKAT)
* large numerical simulations (N-body etc...) in cosmology (CHPC)
* data pipelines for large surveys, Virtual Observatory (CHPC,
MeerKAT)
* CMB and B-mode polarisation and foregrounds (as part of C-BASS
studies)
* Galaxy clusters (SALT, MeerKAT)

The successful candidate will be part of the observational cosmology group at the University of Cape Town lead by Bruce Bassett. The group has strong links with the SAAO and the observational cosmology group at UKZN (http://www.acru.ukzn.ac.za/) who are part of the ACT survey. Members of the UCT observational cosmology group form part of the WFMOS team A and the SDSS supernova survey and are active in designing cosmology surveys for SALT.

The successful candidate will help train and supervise students in the group and contribute to team-building as well as disseminating their research at national and international conferences. In addition they will be expected to interact with the KAT/MeerKAT team on relevant issues. Otherwise however they will be free to work on their own research. They will be able to apply for time on SALT and the other SAAO telescopes (http://www.saao.ac.za) and the new Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC, currently a 2.7 Tflop machine with significant upgrade scheduled; based in Cape Town).

This position is generously funded, coming with a salary of about R240,000 (tax-free) which affords a very confortable standard of living and is approximately equivalent to a senior lecturer salary in Cape Town after tax. Note however that this does not include benefits (pension, health insurance etc..). In addition there is a 2-year travel and equipment budget at the disposal of the successful candidate. The initial appointment is for two years, with extensions possible. A PhD in astronomy/cosmology or related field is required.

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Bruce Bassett
([Log in to view email]) for more information. Applicants should send a CV,
brief summary of future research plans and email addresses of three
referees to Prof. Bruce Bassett at:

[Log in to view email] (preferred)

or

Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
University of Cape Town
Private Bag X3,
Rondebosch 7701,
South Africa

Applications will be considered until the post is filled. Consideration
of applications will begin on 1 August 2007. The start date is flexible
but would be as soon as possible after 1 November 2007.

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