Research Associate - HET Data Scientist

The upgraded Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at The University of Texas at Austin, McDonald Observatory, has developed powerful new instrumental capability for optical and near-infrared spectroscopy (Low-Resolution Spectrograph 2 (LRS2), Visible Integral-field Replicable Unit Spectrograph (VIRUS), upgraded High-Resolution Spectrograph (HRS), Habitable-zone Planet Finder Spectrograph (HPF). The HET Board seeks for data acquired by the facility instruments to be accessible for scientific analysis with minimum impediments. HET seeks a Data Scientist who will work with HET instrument principal investigators (PIs), their commissioning teams and resident astronomers to produce Level 1 data pipeline reduction software for all instruments. The Data Scientist will develop code, document, maintain software, and provide support for questions from the user community. Serves as an ex-officio member of the HET Users Committee and solicits input from the user communities. Communicates the results and functionality of the resulting software through 1) Wikis, 2) regular periodic telecons, and 3) extended visits to partner institutions with appropriate discussion, tutorials and demonstrations of software. Conducts personal research using the HET. This position is located at the University of Texas at Austin and will include travel to McDonald Observatory in west Texas and to HET partner institutions. The position begins September 1, 2017. Candidates are expected to hold a Ph.D. in Astronomy or Astrophysics.

See https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/hr/jobs/nlogon/170614010708 for complete description and to apply for posting number 17-06-14-01-0708. This position is security-sensitive, and a background check will be conducted. UT is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.