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Postdoctoral Scholar-Heliophysics and Planetary Science -Space Sciences Laboratory

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Position overview

Salary range: Commensurate with experience
Percent time: 100
Anticipated start: November 1, 2021
Position duration: 2 years with a possibility of an extension

Position description

The Heliospheric group at the Space Sciences Laboratory seeks an energetic, and independent early postdoctoral scholar with expertise in solar and heliospheric plasma physics to join the team at UC Berkeley working on the currently operating and in-development missions planetary and heliophysics missions at SSL, including NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission, NASA’s Heliophysics Environmental and Radiation Measurement Experiment Suite (HERMES) lunar and space weather mission, and NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On-L1 (SWFO-L1) mission.
Applicants with hardware or instrumentation backgrounds in addition to experience publishing science results using observations from heliophysics or planetary projects are especially encouraged to apply.

The PSP mission was launched in late 2018 and has made eight solar encounters, producing a world-class set of measurements of the solar wind in the inner heliosphere. The HERMES and SWFO-L1 projects in development focus on space weather and space plasma science, including both plasma particle detectors and energetic particle instrumentation in near-Earth space and at the moon. The UC Berkeley team plays a lead role on the PSP science and instrumentation team and the successful candidate will also be encouraged to participate in PSP science operations (i.e. helping define instrument operation modes, selecting burst data, organizing observing campaigns, and participating in subsequent science results). Multiple opportunities to participate in detector development exist via the HERMES and SWFO-L1 projects, both on thermal plasma and energetic particle instrumentation.
As SSL is a university laboratory, the successful candidate will be encouraged to mentor younger scientists and students, as well as receive mentorship opportunities from senior scientists. The position offers considerable independence, and the incumbent will be encouraged to develop their own research interests, including potential instrumentation development and data analysis efforts, and internal and external collaborations.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• PhD (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a PhD (or equivalent international degree) program

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• PhD (or equivalent international degree)
• No more than three years of post-degree research experience by start date

Preferred qualifications

• PhD in physics, astronomy, or space science (or equivalent)
• Record of Publications
• Experience with space plasma or energetic particle instrumentation design, operation, calibration, and data analysis
• Interest or experience developing new and novel sensor or instrumentation for heliophysics or planetary observations.
• Interest or demonstrated experience in obtaining external funding to pursue independent research.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter (Optional)

  • Statement of Research

  • Statement on Contributions to Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including information about your understanding of these topics, your record of activities to date, and your specific plans and goals for advancing equity and inclusion if hired at Berkeley (for additional information go to https://ofew.berkeley.edu/recruitment/contributions-diversity).
    (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3 letters of reference required

Letters of recommendation will be required of all candidates.

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF03106

Help contact: cgarrie@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Berkeley, CA