Are you our new colleague?
Are you a scientist with interest and experience in gravitational wave research and a
passion for collaboration?
We are looking for you!
You and SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research
LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) will be the first space mission to detect gravitational waves from various sources resulting in a broad range of exciting new scientific results. The mission has several significant challenges in the hardware; performance, operations, and calibration; and data processing and science analysis. A worldwide collaboration of knowledge institutes is tackling these challenges together. SRON and our Dutch partners are actively involved in development of important parts of the interferometric detection system. We are also actively participating in the performance and operations and calibration activities via ESA’s Performance and Operations (P&O) team. Our data processing and science analysis efforts enable the mission and ground-breaking science via the LISA DDPC (Distributed Data Processing Center), the LISA Consortium, and in the scientific harvesting of the data. We do this in collaboration with scientists from Dutch universities and research institutes via the LISA NL collaboration. SRON is expanding its activities related to the LISA mission and gravitational wave science and is looking for leading researchers and mission scientists.
Your position and team
You will be part of our Astrophysics Science Group that consists of about 30 members including ~15 permanent research staff as well as a number of postdocs and PhD and masters students. The group is active in a wide range of topics and works with a range of current and future missions, spanning missions in the ESA science program to those launched by NASA, JAXA, and other partners. For the LISA mission our team works closely together with the LISA NL collaboration, with the hardware teams within SRON, with the ESA LISA team, and with our international partners.
Your project
You will work on making the LISA mission a success and on developing a strong role for SRON in the mission. You will perform this work within our SRON team and with the LISA NL collaboration. Your tasks will include:
- Contributing to the development of the LISA mission via science preparations such as in data processing, P&O, and calibration, including by actively connecting the science preparation activities with the relevant hardware contributions and developments
- Taking an active role in the coordination of the LISA activities within SRON and the Netherlands and in growing a diverse Dutch LISA community
- Actively contributing to efforts to acquire additional funding for LISA projects within the Netherlands
- Representing SRON and the Netherlands in international collaborations and teams
- Performing scientific research and supervision
Position requirements
We are looking for a person with a PhD in a field related to the LISA mission and with relevant experience and a collaborative approach. Knowledge of and experience in the LISA consortium, ESA structures, or other large international collaborations is an asset. Experience in coordination of scientific collaborations, particularly in promoting inclusion of diverse team members, is an asset as is experience with coordinating and writing grant applications. Good English language skills (speaking and writing) and the ability to work both in a diverse team and independently are necessary for this position.
What we offer
The position we offer at SRON is full-time (negotiable), tenure track or a permanent position. You will be employed by NWO-I, The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research Institutes of which SRON is part. The salary will be in accordance with our salary scales and, together with the type of employment, commensurate with your education and experience, ranging from scale 11 to 14.
NWO has excellent secondary employment conditions such as:
- An end-of-year bonus of 8,33% of the gross yearly salary;
- A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross yearly salary;
- 42 days of vacation leave a year on a full-time basis;
- An excellent pension scheme;
- Options for (additional) personal development;
- Excellent facilities for parental leave;
- Ample training opportunities;
- Possibility of flexible working hours.
Why SRON
SRON's mission is to achieve breakthroughs in international scientific research from space. To this end, SRON develops groundbreaking technology and advanced space instruments. SRON promotes societal applications for space technology. We have a strong international reputation for 'excellence in space research'. The quality and societal relevance of our science is considered ‘world-leading’.
About SRON
SRON is the Space Research Organization Netherlands. Based at locations in Leiden and Groningen, SRON combines fundamental scientific research, technology innovation, and instrumentation development to enable breakthroughs in astrophysics, exoplanet research, and earth atmospheric research from space. In partnership with leading international partners and space agencies such as ESA, NASA, and JAXA, SRON contributes science and technology to international space missions as well as expertise and support to the Dutch and international scientific communities. SRON is the national base for the Netherlands participation in the ESA science program. On the national level, it works in close collaboration with the Dutch universities, other NWO institutes, and governmental agencies to pursue a cohesive agenda for space- based research.
For more information, please contact
More information about SRON can be found at www.sron.nl. For further information about the content of the position, please contact Dr. Terri Brandt (T.J.Brandt@sron.nl). Applications should be submitted through our website www.werkenbijSRON.nl until the position is filled. Preference will be given to applications submitted before March 25th .
Furthermore
At SRON we believe that an inclusive workforce diverse in gender, age, and cultural background is key to performing excellent research. We therefore strongly encourage qualified applicants of all ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, minoritized people, people with disabilities, and potential dual-academic-career hires to apply. Online and in-person interviews may be part of the selection procedure.
