Jansky Fellows

Position Description:

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) invites applications for the 2025 Jansky Fellowship Program. The Jansky Fellowships support outstanding early career scientists to conduct independent research that is broadly related to the NRAO’s mission.

Since its inception over 60 years ago NRAO has been enabling forefront research into the Universe at radio wavelengths. In partnership with the scientific community, we provide world-leading telescopes, instrumentation, and expertise, train the next generation of scientists and engineers, advance broader, equitable, inclusive participation in science and engineering, and promote astronomy to foster a more scientifically literate society. NRAO operates four world-class research facilities: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), the Green Bank Observatory (GBO), and has begun developing, and soon constructing, the next generation VLA (ngVLA) pushing the boundaries of the state of the art.

We welcome applicants who bring diverse and innovative dimensions to the Observatory and to the field of radio astronomy. As a Jansky Fellow, you will have a unique opportunity to contribute to, and learn from, the development and delivery of the largest and most capable radio telescopes in the world. Candidates with interests in radio astronomy techniques, instrumentation, computation, and theory are encouraged to apply.

Jansky Fellows spend most, if not all, of their time on self-directed independent research. Fellows are encouraged to develop research collaborations with NRAO scientific staff, scientists at the U.S. universities, and colleagues in the international astronomical or instrumentation community. The Jansky Fellowship Program provides numerous opportunities for early career scientists to acquire deep knowledge and understanding of the state-of-the-art radio astronomy science and instrumentation, to engage in activities related to the development and delivery of radio astronomy techniques and capabilities, and to contribute to the NRAO’s research environment. The Fellows are expected to establish themselves as innovative, independent research scientists and engineers, and become the top leaders in the field.

Appointments may be made at the three internal NRAO/GBO sites (Socorro NM, Charlottesville VA, and Green Bank WV). Applicants should describe how their research or technical interests couple with NRAO’s mission, telescopes or science. In compelling cases, a ‘split appointment’ Jansky Fellowship between a U.S. based university and an NRAO site, or a ‘non-resident’ Jansky Fellowship hosted at a university within the United States, may be offered. Non-resident Jansky Fellows are expected to develop a research program that fosters close ties with the NRAO, and describe how residence at their proposed host university will accomplish this. Frequent and/or long-term visits to NRAO sites during the non-resident Fellowship are strongly encouraged. NRAO supports partial teleworking arrangements for scientific postdoctoral fellows.

The Jansky Fellowship appointment will be awarded initially for a two-year period, renewable for a third year. The salary is at the level comparable with other prestigious U.S. postdoctoral fellowships. In addition, Jansky Fellows are allocated USD17000 per year for travel and other research expenses, and further USD3000 per year will be provided to non-NRAO hosts of the Fellows to defray local institutional expenses.

Benefits Information

AUI’s benefits package addresses the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment. AUI provides excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days and 15 sick days, additional time off for doctor/dentist visits, and 8 weeks of paid parental leave). Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. AUI’s retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant’s base pay with no required employee contribution; we also offer an optional supplemental, tax-deferred plan for employee retirement contributions.

AUI is committed to professional development and we offer tuition reimbursement as well as a professional development pool for non-degree related classes, seminars, and conferences. Successful applicants are eligible for relocation assistance and US visa sponsorship (if applicable).

Selection Criteria

• PhD in astronomy, (astro)physics, computer science or a related field, awarded after Sep 2019
  Please indicate in your statement if you had a significant break, or hardship, since receiving your PhD that negatively impacted your research output, and you would like the review committee to consider it in the selection process.
• Excellence and strength of the research proposal
• Excellence of the applicant
• Leadership potential of the candidate, and/or community service
• Synergy between the proposed project and the chosen host location
• Mutual benefit of the fellowship project to NRAO and the applicant.

Application Procedure

The Fellowship Program is open to early career applicants of any nationality who at the start of the fellowship will have not more than 6 years of postdoctoral experience, but well justified exceptions to this rule will be given full consideration. The applications will be evaluated relative to the opportunity and career stage, with preference given to the applicants within the first few years past their PhD award. Jansky Fellowships are awarded based upon a review by a committee that comprises distinguished scientists and astronomers from NRAO and external research institutes, the NRAO Assistant Director for Science Support and Research, and the Lead of the Jansky Fellowship program.

All materials (except reference letters) must be received by 11:59 pm EDT on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Only full applications will be considered. Significant non-adherence to the document rules (maximum number of pages, font size, margin size, etc.) may jeopardize the application; the applicants are requested to follow the instructions. Reference letters are due by 11:59 pm EDT on Wednesday, November 06, 2024.

All applications must include a cover letter, statement addressing selection criteria, curriculum vitae with publications list, summary of previous and current research, and a research proposal combined in a single PDF file. Please use the ‘Add Resume’ button to upload the entire application file including the cover letter. There is no need to upload your cover letter separately. Instructions on how to submit reference letters are provided at the end of this posting. The applications and reference letters must be submitted electronically.

• Cover letter: Please specify your proposed NRAO/GBO location or non-resident host institution, and your second-choice location, which must be an NRAO/GBO site (Socorro, Charlottesville, or Green Bank). If you are applying for a split fellowship as your first choice, please indicate both the NRAO location and host institution where you propose to spend your fellowship, and the proposed fraction of time at each location. Please note that if you don’t provide a secondary choice for the fellowship appointment location, your application will be reviewed only for the single host of your choice. NRAO is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). Applications will not be accepted for non-resident fellowships at other FFRDCs.

• Statement addressing selection criteria: Please explicitly address the selection criteria. If you are applying for a non-resident or split fellowship appointment, it is especially important to describe how you, NRAO, and the host institution will benefit from your appointment as a Jansky Fellow. The statement must be maximum of two (2) pages, formatted with 12 pt. font size and at least 0.75in margins.

Top tips to writing the statement:

• Excellence of the research proposal and the candidate: Please summarize and highlight what makes your proposed research project strong and worth funding, and why you are the best person to deliver it.
• Leadership potential of the candidate and/or community service: Academic work goes beyond solely conducting research, and often includes community service (such as reviewing articles submitted for publication, serving on organizing committees for conferences, etc.) or leadership activities (such as leading projects, or a scientific team). If you have experience in either of these, please provide details here. If you don’t have hands-on experience in these areas, but your proposed research includes for example a leadership aspect, briefly indicate what that would be and how you would approach it to successfully execute it
• Synergy between the proposed project and the chosen host: Explain why your chosen host location is the best place to carry out your proposed research.
• Mutual benefit of the fellowship project to NRAO and the applicant: As a Jansky Fellow you will have a unique opportunity to experience how working at an astronomical observatory looks like, and to contribute to its success. Jansky Fellows do not have any functional observatory duties assigned; however, their work or tools they develop during the fellowship period may advance NRAO facilities, data delivery or science. If your proposed research project incorporates novel techniques in data processing, visualization, big data handling, algorithms, computing, instrumentation etc., please indicate it here when addressing the mutual benefit criterion.

• Curriculum vitae: Provide a summary of your academic and employment history, and any relevant details pertaining to your academic career such as awards, observing programs, and relevant roles. Please include a publication list in your CV. There is no page limit for the CV/publication list.
• Previous and current research: Provide a summary of your previous and current research. The summary must be a maximum of three (3) pages including figures and references, formatted with 12 pt. font size and at least 0.75in margins.
• Research proposal: Please indicate your proposed area of research, and how it relates to NRAO’s mission, strategic goals, observatories and instruments. Your research proposal should address why having a Jansky Fellowship, and therefore a strong linkage to NRAO scientists and facilities, is important for achieving your research goals, and the development of your professional skills. Your research proposal must be a maximum of four (4) pages long, including figures and references, and formatted with 12 pt. font and at least 0.75in margins.
• Non-resident or split appointments only: if the fellowship appointment is requested to be held at a non-NRAO/GBO location, either fully or partially, a letter from the external host department chair that approves your research proposal and agrees to host your Jansky Fellowship at the selected institution must be included.
• Reference Letters: Please arrange for letters of reference from three individuals familiar with your scientific abilities to be provided directly to NRAO. Reference letters must be received by 11:59pm EDT on Wednesday, November 06, 2024. Referees should be instructed to email reference letters to [email protected] using the file name “ApplicantNameJANSKY2025REF.” Applicants are responsible for ensuring that letters of reference have been sent by their referees.

Questions or assistance with the application procedure, as well as requests for additional information on the Jansky Fellowship Program may be sent to [email protected].

The selection, including interviews (online), will take place between October and December 2024. Award offers will be made in January 2025. The nominal start of the fellowships is September 2025, but can begin at an earlier or later date (not later than January 2026).

AUI is an equal opportunity employer. Women, Minorities, Vietnam-Era Veterans, Disabled Veterans, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. To view our complete statement, please visit http://jobs.jobvite.com/nrao/jobs. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email to [email protected]. PM20