AASWOMEN for February 20, 2009

More details on the final stimulus compromise can be found at

http://aas.org/aggregator/sources/1

which includes the House appropriations committee summaries (in pdf format).

The abstract submission deadline for the AAS 214th meeting has been extended to 9:00 PM EST, Monday, 2 March 2009. This meeting will be held in Pasadena, CA at the Pasadena Convention Center. The dates of the meeting are 7-11 June 2009. Further information can be found at

http://aas.org/meetings/aas214

I recently returned from a trip out to the West Coast. I visited three different institutions, and even though I wasn't applying specifically to those departments, at each place the topic of jobs and funding came up and the picture they painted was quite bleak. And I don't think it was simply because of California's own budget problems, because when I came back this week, I encountered both a NY Times Opinion Column and a report on All Things Considered talking about the plight of scientists in these tough economic times.

[To read the full blog article, the follow-on comments, and to post your own comment, please go to

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2009/02/squeezing-pipeline.html ]

Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 11:15 AM - 2:15 PM, Session J4 , Room: 306/307 Co-sponsors: CSWP and Forum on International Physics. Chairs: Eliane Lessner, CSWP and Cherrill Spencer, FIP

This is a panel discussion session which will provide a worldwide assessment of the status and experiences of women in physics; paying attention to the different cultures and environments they work in and to how the age of the physicist affects their perspective. Six invited speakers will present analyses of the progress being made in promoting women in physics from their personal experiences and as assessed from their participation in the Third International Conference on Women in Physics (ICWIP2008) convened in Seoul, Korea in October 2008.

COMMISSIONING SCIENTISTS (CL4845) The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international astronomy facility, is a partnership between Europe, Japan and North America in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. ALMA construction and operations are led on behalf of Europe by ESO, on behalf of Japan by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) and on behalf of North America by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), which is managed by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI).

The Joint ALMA Office invites applications for the position of Commissioning Scientists to be based in Santiago, Chile. These are international staff positions in the ALMA Project, the world's most sensitive mm/submm interferometer, which is currently under construction in northern Chile.

The role of ALMA Commissioning Scientists is to assist the Project Scientist and Deputy Project Scientist in planning and executing the scientific commissioning of ALMA. In order to bring ALMA into full scientific operation, the commissioning team of scientists and engineers will devise testing procedures for new equipment and observing modes, carry out measurements, and interpret results. Successful applicants will be expected to participate in the full range of commissioning activities, but may take the lead on some aspect of testing based on their background and interests. The Commissioning Scientists are encouraged to continue an active program of independent research, and time and resources will be made available for this.

Applicants for this position must have a PhD in astronomy or related field. Demonstrated skills in the following areas would be an advantage, but are not required: knowledge of computing languages (python, xml, etc); development of data reduction and analysis software; and experience trouble-shooting hardware in a Linux environment. These positions require a significant amount of time working at the Operations Support Facility (2900m elevation) and occasionally at the Array Operations Site (5000m elevation). A successful high altitude medical check is a necessary condition for this position. Appointments will be for a period of three years. These positions, located in Santiago, Chile are funded from the construction project, which will be largely completed by the end of 2012, and members of the commissioning team will be in a very strong position to apply for long-term posts in Joint ALMA Observatory Science Operations which will be become available during and after the construction phase.

Deadline for receipt of applications to be considered for these positions is May 15, 2009. Resumes with a cover letter indicating position of interest should be addressed to NRAO, Human Resources Office, 520 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 or sent electronically to resumes_at_nrao.edu. For additional information, please contact Dr. Alison Peck at apeck_at_alma.cl. Non-specific resumes will not be considered. The NRAO is an equal employment opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Scientist/A (Scientific Leader, High Frequency Focal Plane Array Development Program) - GB5311

The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) is the world?s largest fully steerable telescope. Working at wavelengths ranging from 100cm through 3mm, the GBT supports a diverse range of scientific research. Additionally, the GBT has a dynamic program of research and development which keeps the telescope at the cutting edge of science and technology.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is beginning a program to develop focal plane arrays for the Green Bank Telescope, beginning with a 3mm array. We are looking for an energetic individual to provide scientific leadership for the focal plane array development program, particularly for the GBT?s high frequency range.

Work is currently underway on a 7-pixel array for the 18-26 GHz band. The next major spectral line instrument will be a 100+ pixel heterodyne array system working from at least 80 GHz through 115 GHz. We are also planning a large-format 3 mm bolometer camera developed principally by an external consortium. Beyond that, we envision replacing all receiver systems above 15 GHz with focal plane arrays. We are looking for someone to provide the scientific leadership needed to bring these plans into fruition. Responsibilities of the successful applicant will include scientific oversight of all aspects of the FPA development program, from initial specifications of the receiver, IF, and backends, through the final commissioning plans for the various instruments. The applicant will also be tasked with promoting the FPA development program to the external community through talks and workshops, and building external collaborations as appropriate.

The successful applicant must have strong leadership skills and knowledge of radio and/or millimeter astronomy. The successful candidate will have 25% of their time available for independent research. Support for research and travel are provided, as well as vacation accrual, health insurance, and a moving allowance. Position will be filled at the assistant, associate, or scientist level, depending on experience.

The position is located at the NRAO at Green Bank, WV, an observatory which combines an academic setting with a rural environment. The successful candidate will join a staff of 10 PhD astronomers and more than two dozen other professionals engaged in research and development in the fields of engineering, computing, and education.

A minimum of at least three years beyond PhD, and knowledge of radio and/or millimeter wavelength astronomy, as well as basic management skills is required. Applications should include a description of relevant experience, a curriculum vitae including a publication list, a statement of research interests, and the names of three scientists who have agreed to provide letters of reference. All material should be submitted as a single PDF file of the form "LastNameFirstInitial.GB5311.pdf" via email to: gbresumes_at_nrao.edu. Letters of recommendation may be submitted separately via email. Please reference "FPA Scientist, Req: GB5311" in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Initial review of applications will begin immediately. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

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