SPHEREx Laboratory Data Scientist
- Employer
- CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- Location
- California, United States
- Closing date
- 11 Dec 2020
View more
- Academic Discipline
- Physical Sciences, Physics & Astronomy
- Job Type
- Research Related, Other Research Related
- Contract Type
- Fixed Term
- Hours
- Full Time
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.
Job Summary
This position supports the integration and test of the SPHEREx optical instrument, which includes a wide-field telescope, detector arrays, and linear-variable filter spectrometers. The instrument will be characterized in a large cryogenic vacuum chamber to measure focus, spectral response and detector properties. The position supports the development of the laboratory test system, assembly and testing of the instrument, and performance characterization. The laboratory data obtained will be summarized into calibration products that will be placed into the flight data analysis pipeline. This work enables scientific participation in SPHEREx flight data as a member of the science team, which will be assessed as an extension of the position by mutual agreement.
Job Duties
- The applicant will lead the implementation of an automated data taking system to visualize and record data from the instrument and laboratory test equipment such as external collimators and spectrometers
- In addition the applicant will support all aspects of the testing including instrument assembly and characterization of measurement apparatus
- The applicant will help produce calibration data products from these measurements that will be integrated into the flight data analysis pipeline
- Light physical activity will be required for carrying out laboratory tests
- Travel is voluntary but encouraged to attend project meetings and scientific conferences
Basic Qualifications
- PhD in physics, astronomy astrophysics or engineering and 4 years of experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in developing and testing infrared instrumentation
- Familiarity with data taking from multiple laboratory systems and real-time display of data
- Proficiency in analyzing infrared data towards instrument characterization and applying them to astrophysical measurements and systematic error analysis
- Familiarity with cryogenics, optics, and mechanical design
- Expertise in statistical methods in astronomical data analysis that will be used in SPHEREx, including source stacking, spatial power spectra, and line intensity mapping
Required Documents
- Resume/C.V.
- Cover Letter
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