Instrument Scientist

Job description

Are you an enthusiastic, creative, and assertive scientist who thrives on bringing projects to completion? Do you have a passion for advancing astronomical instrumentation? The NOVA Sub-mm Group at the University of Groningen is looking for an instrument scientist to contribute to the research and development of cutting-edge sub-millimeter astronomical instruments.

As an instrument scientist you will be responsible for the research, development and optimization of advanced cryogenic instruments. While working closely with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technicians, your contributions will support groundbreaking astronomical research through high-sensitivity heterodyne technologies and state-of-the-art instrumentation.

Why would you want this job?

1. Impactful research and innovation: contribute to the development of high-precision astronomical instrumentation, shaping the future of sub-mm astronomy.

2. Collaborative and international team: work alongside top experts in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment with extensive global collaborations.

As an instrument scientist your key responsibilities will include

• Conducting research and development in astronomical instrumentation for sub-mm technology.
• Developing, testing, and optimizing cryogenic instruments, including opto-mechanical design, system analysis, and performance enhancement.
• Performing laboratory experiments and analyzing test results to improve instrumentation.
• Writing and contributing to technical documentation for instrumentation projects.
• Presenting findings at scientific conferences and publishing in academic journals.
• Occasionally assisting in instrumentation production projects.

Where you will work

The University of Groningen is a research university with a global perspective, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has been a top priority for over four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently ranked in the top 100 of various influential rankings. This position will be embedded within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, which offers fourteen Bachelor's programmes and twenty-six Master's programmes to approximately 7,200 students.

The Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA) is the alliance between the astronomy departments of the universities of Groningen, Amsterdam, Leiden and Nijmegen. NOVA conducts astronomical research at the highest international level and develops state-of-the-art astronomical instrumentation in the sub-mm and optical-infrared domains. In its quest to answer some of the most fundamental questions about the universe, NOVA collaborates extensively with research institutes within the Netherlands (SRON and ASTRON) and abroad.

The Sub-mm Instrumentation Group of NOVA at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute of the University of Groningen consists of about 10 highly skilled professionals that develop cutting-edge astronomical instrumentation in the far infrared and sub-millimeter range. The group has extensive experience in the development and construction of cryogenic and room-temperature instruments for major sub-mm observatories such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA, www.almaobservatory.org/), the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) and the Event Horizon Telescope (eventhorizontelescope.org/). The group primarily focuses on the development of high-sensitivity heterodyne technologies using superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junctions as mixers for high resolution spectroscopy, although other promising (heterodyne or direct) detector techniques in the broad frequency range around 1 THz, or supporting technologies, may be explored as well. The work takes place in international project consortia and technologically there are extensive connections with SRON, The Netherlands Institute for Space Research, with which the group is co-located.

Qualifications

We are looking for an instrument scientist who

• Holds a PhD in applied/experimental physics or a related field.
• Has strong technical communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Has a drive to understand and create high-end astronomical instrumentation and the ability to conduct interdisciplinary research.

In addition, you meet as many as possible of the following qualifications

• Has experience in the design, testing, and calibration of heterodyne detectors and/or instruments.
• Holds knowledge of superconducting device physics and sub-mm detector technology.
• Is familiar with low-noise electronics (GHz range), cryogenic, and vacuum technology.
• Gained experience in data analysis for instrumentation testing.
• Has a background in writing funding proposals for scientific research.

Organisation

Conditions of employment

Our working conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities

• A salary of at least € 3,378 gross per month (scale 10) to a maximum of € 6,209 (scale 11) when working full time
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus based on annual gross income.
• A fixed-term contract of 0.8 – 1.0 FTE for two years, with the prospect of a permanent contract.
• Based on a 38-hour work week (full-time), you will receive 232 annual leave hours.
• Comprehensive benefits, including a good pension plan, parental leave, and professional development opportunities.