The IAC (Tenerife) invites applications for ONE postdoctoral contract to work on the project linked to the line of research “Stellar and interstellar physics: substellar objects and young ultracool dwarfs in Euclid”. The contract is funded by the project “Substellar Science with the Euclid Space Mission (SUBSTELLAR)” (HORIZON EUROPE-ERC-2021-ADG, Gran Agreement number: 101054354), within the framework of the ERC Advanced 2021 Grant call of the European Research Council Executive Agency within the Horizon Europe financing program of the European Commission, and led by Prof. Eduardo L. Martín.

The appointed candidate will benefit from the research environment at the IAC, which hosts one of the pioneering groups in substellar science around the world. The group is involved in several instrumentation programs, telescope developments, and large area surveys, particularly those to be carried out with the Euclid space mission. In 2020, the IAC was granted by the Spanish Government the status of Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence, a prestigious recognition awarded for the third time to the IAC as a leading research institute in Spain. Further information about the IAC's research programme, its Observatories and the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) is available at the IAC's web page: https://www.iac.es/

Tasks: The postdoc will be responsible of making and maintaining a comprehensive catalog of young low-mass stars, ultracool dwarfs and substellar-mass objects in the Euclid fields. New data for those objects coming from Euclid and other facilities will be analyzed and incorporated into the catalog during the whole duration of the ERC project. The objects in the catalog will serve as benchmarks for the search for new substellar objects in the Euclid surveys. The postdoc will use Euclid data to improve the calibration of fundamental properties of substellar-mass objects.  

Special functions of the FC2 postdoc:

1. Co-supervision of at least one PhD student at the IAC

2. Representation of the project in working groups, events, strategic projects, or other international activities, to be defined with the PI, in order to strengthen the national and international visibility

3. Consulting with the PI and the project manager in the elaboration of technical progress reports and financial justification to the funding agency

4. Consulting with the PI about the work of personnel with tasks directly related to the project

5. Preparation and submission to observing facilities or super-computers of large proposals to support the science goals of the project

6. Consulting with the PI on education and outreach material related to the line of research, development and maintenance of the project´s website and other social media

The successful candidate should have an excellent record in substellar science and/or related fields (young low-mass stars and exoplanets) commensurate to the duration of the research career, as well as demonstrated ability to work inside a team and perform networking activities.

Requirements: The candidates must have an excellent track record of research in substellar science and/or related fields (young low-mass stars and/or exoplanets), commensurate with the duration of their research career, as well as demonstrated ability to work within the framework of a group, including participation in networking activities. They must be in possession of a Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics or Physics by the application deadline: candidates who have not received their doctorate before the deadline will not be admitted to the selection process. The IAC is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage, in particular, applications by women and by members of minorities.

Selection process: The selection process consists of two phases: merit assessment and interview.

1. First phase: merit assessment. The Selection Panel will verify and rate the merits documented by the applicants. The maximum score that can be awarded in this phase is 80 points, calculated as the sum of the scores obtained in each of the following two sections.

a)  CV (maximum score: 60 points). Main criteria will be:

• Scientific and technical contributions to the field of research, especially those listed in the Science Citation Index, in relation to the duration of the candidate’s scientific career. Of special importance are the first-authored papers by the candidate.
• Appointments and stays (at the PhD or postdoctoral level) in prestigious research institutions.
• Conference contributions, especially those leading to publications.
• Other indicators of research activity and motivation (like invitations to lectures, organization of meetings, and teaching at University level).
• Any periods of inactivity for medical reasons, maternity/paternity leaves, elderly care, or due to training or professional experience in other fields will be taken into account.

b)  Adequacy to the objectives of the contract (maximum score 20 points)

Adequacy of the candidate’s training and experience to this contract. The following points will be valued: Substantial observational and data reduction experience, communication skills (presentations in professional meetings), astronomical software development, programming skills, participation in the supervision of students. 

Form of accreditation for both sections: A report of the candidate's technical and research activity, accompanied by documentation accrediting the activities mentioned.

2) Second phase: interview. (maximum score 20 points)

• Candidates who have obtained at least 50 points in the first phase will be invited to an interview. The interview may be given in either Spanish or English (as chosen by the candidate) and take place using internet communication software (Zoom) that allows voice and image transmission.
• During the interview, the candidate will present, for a maximum of 10 minutes, his/her vision about the suitability of his/her professional profile to the position and the planned research activity if awarded the contract. The presentation may be followed by questions by the Selection Committee.

Of the maximum 20 points to be awarded:

• Up to 10 points correspond to the suitability of the candidate’s profile to the position
• Up to 10 points correspond to the candidate's vision for their future research activity.

To pass the second phase a minimum score of 15 points will be necessary.

To pass the selective process, a minimum of 65 points must be reached. If there is a draw in the score of two or more candidates, priorities will be set according to the Equality Plan of the IAC.

Training: Candidates who have obtained their doctorate at the IAC must provide accreditation of a period of complementary training at other research centres. The required period is a full continuous year or 18 accumulated months (including periods of training during the doctoral studies stage and after obtaining the Ph.D. degree, but not periods prior to the predoctoral contract at the IAC).

Duration: The contract will be of indefinite duration. It is estimated that the date of commencement will be during the first half of 2023. The current funding horizon for the project ends on the December 31, 2027.

Remuneration: The gross annual salary will be 44.766 Euros, with deductions of up to 20% for income tax (IRPF) and social security (dependent on the candidate's personal situation). The contract provides social security cover for spouse or de facto partner and children.

Extra financial support to start the contract: The present job offer includes financial support related to the incorporation of the selected candidate at the IAC. These expenses must be included in the following categories, and within the period of 14 days immediately prior to the start date of the contract: 1) Air or boat ticket from the place of residence to Tenerife (arranged by the IAC). The price of the ticket will be at the cheapest rate. 2) Accommodation expenses for two weeks (13 nights), also arranged by the IAC, and a per diem of 37,40 euros x 14 days, no other expenses will be reimbursed. This incorporation of financial support is subject to income tax.

Applicants from outside the EU: Successful applicants who are not citizens of a member country of the European Union must keep in mind that, prior to signing the contract, they must obtain a residence and work permit (NIE card) from the Spanish immigration authorities.

Presentation of applications: Applications must be sent electronically via the web-based application system https://iac.sede.gob.es/procedimientos/portada/idp/390/language/en before the deadline set out in this advertisement. Alternatively, you may follow the instructions given in the corresponding official advertisement on our website.

The following documentation must be sent:

• Online application including the name and position code (PS-2022-116)
• Copy of a valid passport or national identity card
• Cover Letter
• CV, containing a list of publications (NO amendment allowed)
• Report on research activity and justification of suitability for the job -not exceeding 2 pages- (NO amendment allowed).
• Copy of your degree or corresponding stamped certificate, issued on behalf of the University where you have obtained the degree (in Spanish or English) (NO amendment allowed)
• Certificate of training in other centers (only for applicants that have completed their doctorate at the IAC).

You should also include the names and email addresses of two or three scientists familiar with your work.

Applications submitted after the deadline will be automatically rejected, as will those unaccompanied by a Curriculum Vitae, Research Activity Report, copy of the Degree or the Scientific Project to be developed (in the case of PD Genérico calls), documents that cannot be corrected or added to after submission. Applications not accompanied by these documents will therefore definitely be excluded from the selection process.

If any other required documents are omitted, they will have to be submitted within a period of five working days after publication of the provisional list of admitted and excluded candidates.

The IAC supports and adheres to the Recommendation of the European Commission 2005/251/EC of March 11th 2005 on “The European Charter for Researchers” and “The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers” adopted by the European Commission. Additionally, the IAC is aligned with the "Human Resources Strategy for Researchers" (HRS4R) fostered by the European Commission to support the implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (C&C), having received recognition from the European Commission, with the award of the distinction "Excellence in Human Resources in Research".

Application deadline: JANUARY 31, 2023

Contact: For further information about the scientific aspects of this opening, please contact the head of the project at the IAC PI, Prof. Eduardo L. Martín (ege at iac.es).