scient. Employee (m/f/d) in the pilot team for innovative method developments in radio astronomy

The German Center for Astrophysics (DZA) is a new research center in Lusatia. The decision to build the center was made on 29.09.2022 as part of the competition "Knowledge creates perspectives for the region", which was launched by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Free State of Saxony and the State of Saxony-Anhalt as part of the Coal Regions Structural Strengthening Act StStG to strengthen the regions affected by the coal phase-out in order to strengthen Germany as a location for science and innovation and to contribute to the development of Lusatia in Saxony and the Central German mining area into attractive regions of the future. As a globally visible sign of innovation, the DZA will create new opportunities for strategic leadership roles in German astrophysics and have a lasting impact on structural change in Lusatia.

At the beginning of 2023, a three-year development phase has begun with the aim of establishing the DZA as an independent institution in 2025. The start-up phase is being jointly organized by the Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY) and the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD). There is a unique opportunity to actively participate in the establishment of a large research center and to help shape the future structures.

The TUD and the DZA see diversity as a cultural matter of course and a quality criterion for a university of excellence. Accordingly, we welcome all applicants who would like to contribute to our success with their performance and personality.

To build up the DZA, we are looking to fill several positions at the earliest possible date in Görlitz and/or Dresden as

scientific Assistant (m/f/d)

in the pilot team for innovative method developments in radio astronomy

(if the personal requirements are met E 13 TV-L)

initially until 31.12.2025 (employment period according to WissZeitVG), with option for extension/perpetuation at the DZA after foundation. The compatibility of family and career is a high priority. In principle, the positions are also suitable for part-time employees. Please note this request in your application.

Tasks: For the project to establish the German Center for Astrophysics (DZA) in Görlitz, we are looking for several software developers, radio astronomers with an interest in algorithms, data scientists and mathematically oriented method developers with an interest in radio astronomy as well as a project manager with a radio astronomy background. They will form a development team for radio astronomical data processing for the next generation of radio interferometric telescopes planned or under construction at various locations on Earth. The pilot team shall consist of about ten astronomers, data scientists, mathematicians, software engineers and project coordinators at different early career stages (PhD students, first and advanced postdocs) and be embedded in a vibrant national and international community, including collaboration and conference visits. The pilot team will develop the following:

• an infrastructure for processing large radio astronomical data sets in different supercomputer environments (CPU/GPU clusters, in-memory computing) and user interfaces for astronomers to interact with these data (for technical inquiries, please contact Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Nagel, [email protected] (https://mailto: [email protected] ) )
• fast, FPGA-based methods for the detection of transient astrophysical signals and their subsequent analysis (technical inquiries to Prof. Dr. Diana Goehringer, [email protected] (https://mailto: [email protected] ) )
• a radio camera, an integrated software that performs radio interferometric correlations, detects and separates transient signals, calibrates the instrument and the ionosphere and is connected to traditional and Bayesian imaging methods (for technical inquiries, please contact PD Dr. Torsten Enßlin, [email protected] (https://mailto: [email protected] ) ).
  
  

Team members should ideally have several of the following qualifications:

• Knowledge of radio interferometry, its measurement equation, available software packages and/or its technical challenges
• Ability to process interferometer data (calibration, imaging, pipelining)
• Good knowledge of Bayesian probability theory, signal processing, information field theory, machine learning and/or excellent mathematical skills
• good computer science and/or programming skills, especially in C, C , Python, JAX, CUDA, hardware description languages (e.g. VHDL), high-performance computing, for GPUs and/or FPGAs
• Professional experience in the operation of computer clusters or HPC facilities
• Ability to work and take responsibility in local, national and international teams
  
  

Requirements

• scient. University degree (e.g. Master's degree or equivalent) in physics, mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering, astronomy, astrophysics or related subjects
• Relevant experience or in-depth knowledge in the fields of radio astronomy, data science, computer science, programming, mathematics, machine learning or project coordination
• Resilience, flexibility and adaptability in an evolving organization
• Willingness to travel for business purposes
• Business fluent in English.
• Several of the above qualifications are desirable.
  
  

What We Offer You

• the chance to help build the largest research center for astrophysics in Germany
• the opportunity to play an active role in shaping structural change in Upper Lusatia
• the opportunity to create the personnel conditions to support the discovery of groundbreaking research results and to contribute to the realization of research projects
• a dynamic, committed, international and interdisciplinary environment with renowned experts from science and industry
• Remuneration according to TV-L, as well as conditions and social benefits of the public sector
• Compatibility of family and career
• the possibility of a permanent employment contract after the start-up phase
  
  

The TUD and the DZA strive to increase the proportion of women and therefore expressly ask them to apply. The university is a certified family-friendly university and has a Dual Career Service. Applications from severely disabled people are particularly welcome. In the case of equal aptitude, they or their equals will be given preference by law in accordance with SGB IX.

Please send your informative application with the usual documents, stating the job code "w24-232", by 01.08.2024 (the postmark or the time stamp on the TUD e-mail server applies) preferably via the SecureMail portal of the TUD https://securemail.tu-dresden.de ( https://securemail.tu-dresden.de /) in a PDF document to [email protected] (https://mailto: [email protected] ) or to: German Center for Astrophysics (DZA), Ms. Maria Haupt, Postplatz 1, 02826 Görlitz. Your application documents will not be returned, please submit copies only. Interview costs will not be covered.

Note on data protection: The rights you have and the purpose for which your data is processed as well as further information on data protection can be found on the website https://tu-dresden.de/karriere/datenschutzhinweis ( https://tu-dresden.de/karriere/datenschutzhinweis ).