Associate Professor at ALMA Project, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)

Job Description:

We invite applications for one Associate Professor who is based in Mitaka, at NAOJ Headquarters, and whose primary mission is to lead the development process including assembly, integration and verification for hardware components in the ALMA observing system, and to significantly contribute to the implementation of the WSU (Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade).

Efforts are currently and will be underway to develop the hardware and software necessary to significantly enhance the observing capabilities of ALMA (Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade; WSU). In addition, obsolescence measures are being taken to properly maintaining the existing facility as the basis for such significant upgrade. The NAOJ ALMA Project is working closely with the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) to develop and maintain hardware components such as the WSU data transmission system, antenna control and drive systems, and receivers for which the East Asia region is responsible.

The successful candidate will be expected to belong to the East Asian ALMA Development Team in order to (1) lead the process of at least one of the development items (the data transmission system, antenna control/drive system, receivers, spectrometer for the Total Power Array, etc.), and (2) contribute to the implementation of the WSU observing system in ALMA.

To fulfill the responsibility, the applicant is expected to have the engineering ability to advance astronomical research and development, or to have the basic knowledge and high motivation to acquire such ability. Knowledge of radio telescopes and instrumentation is necessary. English proficiency is also necessary since the successful candidate will work in English-speaking teams in NAOJ and also in collaboration with the ALMA partners in Chile, Europe, North America, Taiwan and Korea.

The responsibility of this position includes research in astronomy or related field. It also includes fostering collaborations among NAOJ scientists and engineers, and developers in ATC and other divisions to stimulate productivity of science and development by making the best use of the strengths of NAOJ. Fostering young scientists, engineers and technicians including PhD students is also required as part of the job responsibility.