Specialist ( Associate/ Full ) - Space Sciences Laboratory, UC Berkeley
Position overview
Position title: SpecialistApplication Window
Open date: January 29, 2024
Next review date: Tuesday, Apr 30, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Monday, Jan 20, 2025 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
Description:
The Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) at the University of California, Berkeley is seeking applications for a Specialist to work on several missions, including the following: solar PolArization and Directivity X-Ray Experiment (PADRE), Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN), Parker Solar Probe, and Space Weather Follow-On (SWFO). This work will involve ongoing pre-launch instrument optimization, in flight calibration, and science operations.
Significant time will be spent running simulations in Geant4 in order to:
(1) assist with instrument optimization such as shielding, geometry of detectors, etc.,
(2) determine the response (geometric factor) of detectors to different types of particles at a wide range of energies and angular distribution, and
(3) determine the response of planetary atmospheres to particle fluxes such as energetic solar events, cosmic rays, and the solar wind (ie, energy deposition by altitude, number of secondaries created, etc.).
The successful candidate will collaborate with national and international colleagues, and will be expected to present of research results at national and international conferences as well as publishing results in leading journals. Additional responsibilities will include collaborating with colleagues in writing proposals, statistical modeling to analyze data, and management of scientific data files, including creating user-friendly data files of important mission parameters from an array of instrument data files.
Responsibilities:
• Assist with instrument optimization such as shielding, geometry of detectors, etc.
• Determine the response (geometric factor) of detectors to different types of particles at a wide range of energies and angular distribution.
• Determine the response of planetary atmospheres to particle fluxes such as energetic solar events, cosmic rays, and the solar wind (i.e., energy deposition by altitude, number of secondary's created, etc.).
Department: https://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/
Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree or equivalent international degree.
Associate:
Bachelor's Degree or equivalent international degree and 5 years of professional/ laboratory experience.
OR
Master’s degree or international equivalent plus 3 years of professional/laboratory experience.
Full:
Bachelor's Degree or equivalent international degree and 10 years of professional /laboratory experience.
OR
Master’s degree or international equivalent plus 8 years of professional/laboratory experience.
OR
PhD or international equivalent international degree plus 2 years of professional/laboratory experience.
•A record of contributions to published space physic research (i.e. co-author on peer reviewed papers or on instrument papers).
•Experience disseminating research results at conferences either through talks or posters.
•Experience collaborating with colleagues on proposal submissions.
•Experience in data analysis, and scientific interpretation of space plasma physics data
•Strong knowledge of space plasma physics and statistics.
•Experience in space plasma instrumentation.
•Ability to perform independent research.
•Expertise in scientific programming, including C++, IDL, and the Geant4 toolkit.
•Knowledge of the SPICE toolkit from the NASA Planetary Data System, including kernels and functions.
•Proficiency in other frequently used space physics toolkits, including Tplot, monte CArlo SImulation of electroN trajectory in sOlids (CASINO), Stopping Range in Matter (SRIM), SolidWorks, and SPENVIS.
•Experience working with data files in multiple formats, including cdf, ascii, and idl sav files.
•Demonstrated service within the space physics community, i.e. reviewing scientific papers for peer-review journals.
Application 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 (Optional)
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
letters of reference will only be solicited for finalists
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.