Research Associate / PhD Student, Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), as a University of Excellence, is one of the leading and most dynamic research institutions in the country. Founded in 1828, today it is a globally oriented, regionally anchored top university as it focuses on the grand challenges of the 21st century. lt develops innovative solutions for the world's most pressing issues. In research and academic programs, the university unites the natural and engineering sciences with the humanities, social sciences and medicine. This wide range of disciplines is a special feature, facilitating interdisciplinarity and transfer of science to society. As a modern employer, it offers attractive working conditions to all employees in teaching, research, technology and administration. The goal is to promote and develop their individual abilities while empowering everyone to reach their full potential. TUD embodies a university culture that is characterized by cosmopolitanism, mutual appreciation, thriving innovation and active participation.For TUD diversity is an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent university. Accordingly, we welcome all applicants who would like to commit themselves, their achievements and productivity to the success of the whole institution.

At the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Department of Geosciences, Institute of Planetary Geodesy, the Lohrmann Observatory offers for the MSCA Doctoral Network “MWGaiaDN: Revealing the Milky Way with Gaia” a position as

Research Associate /PhD student (m/f/x)

(due to funding, the salary is calculated according to MSCA regulation)

starting September 1, 2023. The position is limited to 36 months (max. until August 31, 2026). The period of employment is governed by Fixed Term Research Contracts Act (Wissenschaftszeitvetragsgesetz-WissZeitVG). The position offers the chance to obtain further academic qualification (e.g.PhD).

The project is funded by the MARIA SKŁODOWSKA CURIE doctoral network within Horizon Europe Programme of the European Commission [Cordis link]. The network MWGaiaDN consists of 10 academic partners across Europe at which 12 PhD students will be active in the network researching a range of topics with Gaia and other data.

The goal of the ESA space telescope Gaia [ESA link] is the determination of the spatial positions and velocities as well as the astrophysical characteristics of about 2 billion celestial objects. Gaia is considered as a revolution in astronomy and enjoys the highest international reputation. The team of the Lohrmann Observatory is part of the European Gaia Consortium and primarily responsible for the relativistic aspects of the data processing, the details of the Gaia Celestial Reference Frame as well as the definition, computation and analysis of the astrometric solutions of Gaia.

Tasks: The ultimate observational accuracy of space astrometry with Gaia requires a thorough relativistic modelling. The usual approach is to require the model that is accurate at a level significantly below the observational accuracy. While this approach was possible for Gaia, it may become prohibitive complex for accuracies just 1-2 orders of magnitude below.A combination of Gaia observations with those of its possible successorGaiaNIR promises to significantly increase the accuracy of the combined astrometric solution reaching a sub-microarcsecond level. The task is to investigate the necessity and the possibility of the corresponding increase of the accuracy of the relativistic models and the parameters required by those models (e.g. orbital data). The work includes detailed numerical investigations of the influence of various effects on a realistic simulated astrometric solution using a simulation software provided by Gaia Consortium. Certain theoretical investigations of the relativistic effects will also be required. The goal is learn, from the point of view of relativistic modelling, what is actually required to obtain an astrometric solution with a sub-microarcsecond level of accuracy. The project includes a number of secondments in the partner universities of the network.

Requirements:

• university degree (Master degree or equivalent) in astronomy, physics, or related areas with strong skills in research (proven by master thesis or equivalent).
• Experience with a modern object-oriented computer language. Ability to work with data in modern computational environments.
• Proof of English proficiency. Basic communication skills in German are helpful.
• Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment.
• Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the last 3 years immediately prior to the date of recruitment.
• The successful applicant must enroll in the TU Dresden’s Graduate Academy.
• Basic knowledge of General Relativity Theory is desirable.

TUD strives to employ more women in academia and research. We therefore expressly encourage women to apply. The University is a certified family-friendly university and offers a Dual Career Service. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. If multiple candidates prove to be equally qualified, those with disabilities or with equivalent status pursuant to the German Social Code IX (SGB IX) will receive priority for employment.

Please submit your comprehensive application including scientific CV, copies of certificates and academic qualifications (if applicable with English translations), and a motivation letter until April 24, 2023 (stamped arrival date of the university central mailservice applies), preferably via the SecureMail Portal of the TU Dresden https://securemail.tu-dresden.de by sending it as a single pdf document to sergei.klioner@tu-dresden.de or to: TU Dresden, Fakultät Umweltwissenschaften, FachrichtungGeowissenschaften, Institut für PlanetareGeodäsie, Lohrmann-Observatorium, Herrn Prof. Dr. habil. Sergei A. Klioner, Helmholzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden, Germany. Please submit copies only, as your application willnot be returned to you. Expenses incurred in attending interviews cannot be reimbursed.

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