Open Position Postdoctoral Position for the MAGIC project

About IFAE

The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) is a public consortium of Generalitat de Catalunya, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB, a public university) whose main goal is to carry out research and to contribute to the development of high energy physics from a theoretical, experimental and technological point of view. IFAE has the status of a “University Institute" attached to UAB and its premises are within the campus of the university.

About the MAGIC project

MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes for the observation of the universe in the very high energy gamma-ray band (photon energies above 50 GeV). The system has been operating in stereoscopic mode since summer 2009, and is a leading facility in high energy gamma-ray astrophysics. IFAE is one of the founding members of the MAGIC collaboration, and has been involved in all aspects of the project, from its design and construction, to the development of the data analysis and Scientific exploitation. Our group is also responsible for the science data center of the MAGIC collaboration, located at the neighboring Port d’Informació Cientìfica (PIC). Further information about MAGIC can be found in this link: http://magic.mppmu.mpg.de/

What will be your role?

The successful candidate will join the team that works at the MAGIC telescope site at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in the island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). Her/his main tasks will be to support the operation and maintenance of the telescopes and their various subsystems. This includes the eventual installation of new hardware elements, and (only occasionally) the participation in the data taking night shifts. The maintenance tasks require accessing the telescope structure, which qualifies as “work at height” – previous experience is not mandatory, and training will be provided, but the candidate should have no health issues incompatible with this type of work. During 1/3 of her/his time the successful candidate will be free to do scientific research. She/he will join the MAGIC collaboration as a full member, i.e. will be allowed to submit observation proposals, access and analyze telescope data, and publish results. A travel budget to join MAGIC meetings and attend scientific conferences will be available.

Required skills and evaluation criteria

The successful candidate should:

• have a PhD degree in Physics, Astronomy or a related field, or alternatively a degree in Engineering, with focus on experimental developments
• be fluent in English (oral and writing skills)
• have a driving license which is valid in Spain (needed to access the observatory)
• Knowledge of the Spanish language will be consider an asset. Experience in the field of detectors for high-energy physics or astrophysics is welcome, but not mandatory.

The evaluation criteria and their weighting for the submitted applications will be the following:

• Scientific excellence and relevant experience, based on the CV: 50 points
• Recommendation letters: 30 points
• Language skills: 20 points

Offered contract:

• Full time contract (40 hours/week).
• Temporary contract. The contract will have a duration of 2 years, with a possible extension depending on the funding of the project.
• IFAE Professional category: “Investigador(a) postdoctoral (R2)”.
• Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications within the corresponding category range
• The selected candidate is expected to start the contract as soon as possible.

Application and Selection process:

Applications should be submitted moralejo@ifae.es jobs@ifae.es stating the job reference (IFAE2024/19_PD_MAGIC) as the Subject of the message. The mail should include a cover letter and an updated CV. The candidates can also arrange for two reference letters. Sending CVs to the above addresses implies consent to the IFAE’s legal warning on data privacy .

A Selection Committee will evaluate the received applications. If more than one candidate seems equally suitable for the position, the Selection Committee will arrange an on-line interview with each one of them as part of the Selection process.

According to the laws affecting the public sector, priority will be given to candidates fulfilling the required skills with a current labour relationship with any of the Administrations of the consortium (Generalitat de Catalunya and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona).

IFAE is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace and social integration of people with a disability. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. People from groups that are typically underrepresented in the labour market in general and in Science and Engineering in particular, such as women, minorities, or people with a disability, are particularly encouraged to apply.

You may contact Abelardo Moralejo (moralejo@ifae.es ) for any questions related to this job opening.