Rotator Program Officers Needed at NSF

The National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) needs your help as a rotator Program Officer! For more than six decades, NSF has provided grants and facilities to support research in astronomy and astrophysics. This support has helped to transform the United States’ astronomical community into the global powerhouse it is today. To guide its investments in basic research, NSF relies on rigorous merit review of proposals from the community. Throughout NSF, the merit-review process is managed by dedicated Program Officers (POs). Each of AST’s POs holds an astrophysics-related doctorate and has experience in some aspect of the astronomy community before coming to NSF. Every one cares passionately about astronomy, and works hard to support a diverse set of top-ranked scientific investigations.

The POs include individuals with either permanent or temporary appointments. The latter are often called “IPAs," after the Intergovernmental Personnel Act that defines their positions, or “rotators,” because they return to their home institutions when their NSF tours of duty end. This is where you come in. AST is currently seeking to hire two or three new IPAs. We are looking for candidates who have had their PhD for at least six years, hold a position to which they can return, and can make arrangements to be away for up to three years. If you or someone you know fits those criteria and would like the opportunity to learn about and support the latest scientific advances, participate in the development of strategies for ground-based astronomy, and learn how the federal government actually works, then we would like to hear from you! To learn more about these positions and how to apply, please see the position description on USAJobs.gov. Deadline for applications is 31 March 2016. AST welcomes applications from outstanding candidates in any sub-discipline of astronomy or astrophysics, and the Division is particularly in need of scientists with expertise in instrumentation or high-performance computing.

IPAs can serve at NSF from other federal agencies and the following: state and local governments; private and public colleges and universities; Indian Tribal governments; federally funded research and development centers; and qualified non-profit organizations involved in public management. IPAs remain employees of their home institution. The NSF is committed to providing its researchers the opportunity to maintain an active research program and supervision of their students’ thesis research. Up to 50 days per year for research is available, along with support for travel and other research costs, subject to approval of an annual research plan. Learn more about IPA positions.