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Postdoctoral Researcher – CASPER Radio Astronomy Laboratory, UC Berkeley

Position overview

Salary range: The UC postdoc salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2023-24/oct-2023-acad-salary-scales/t23.pdf . A reasonable estimate for this position is $64,480 –$77,327.
Percent time: 100
Anticipated start: 3/1/2024
Position duration: 2 years initial appointment

Application Window

Open date: December 10, 2023

Most recent review date: Saturday, Feb 17, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Monday, Dec 9, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Radio Astronomy Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in the areas of radio astronomy research and digital instrumentation. Directed by Professor Aaron Parsons, research in the lab addresses the development of new instrumentation and signal processing techniques for radio astronomy.

The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to work collaboratively with a research team to further the Collaboration for Astronomy Signal Processing and Electronics Research (CASPER) by developing open-source software and hardware for the radio astronomy community. In addition, the postdoctoral researcher will play a lead role in the day to day oversight of young research participants.

Responsibilities:

  • Develop open-source high-level tools for FPGA and GPU based instrumentation used in Radio Astronomy, including general purpose libraries and hardware specific infrastructure in collaboration with international CASPER collaborators.
  • Lead the development, testing, and deployment of novel instrumentation within UC Berkeley’s Radio Astronomy Laboratory (RAL). These instruments may include spectrometers, correlators, beamformers, transient-processing systems (pulsar and fast radio bursts), SETI, and other DSP systems used by single-dish and synthetic-aperture radio telescopes.
  • Mentor, and train graduate and undergraduate student researchers, as well as visiting scientists and students.
  • Write research reports and publish peer-reviewed journal articles.

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)
  • No more than three years of post-degree research experience by start date.
  • PhD (or equivalent international degree)
Preferred qualifications
  • Ph.D. or equivalent international degree in electrical engineering, computer science, astronomy, physics, or closely related field.
  • Strong communication skills in order to write routine reports and correspondence, speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organizations.
  • Experience in high-throughput digital signal processing systems, including FPGA- and GPU-based processing elements.
  • Experience with: Python, C, Verilog/VHDL, CUDA, MATLAB & Simulink.
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize work with demanding time-frames
  • Demonstrated interpersonal skills to establish and maintain cooperation working with relationships with a multi-diverse campus
  • Experience with high-speed Ethernet networks.

  • Experience in high-level design and deployment of radio-astronomy instrumentation.

  • Familiarity with the previous work of the Collaboration for Astronomy Signal Processing and Electronics Research.

  • Proficiencies with hardware description languages applied to Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs).

Application Requirements

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

  • Cover Letter

  • 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).

  • Statement of Research - 2-3 page statement of research interests and future plans.
    (Optional)

  • Publications List (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)

letters of reference will only be solicited for finalists

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04224

Help contact: ajoga@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