Permanent full-time scientific position - Faculty of Sciences - Field: Speculoos Instrumental Platform for Exoplanetology

Start date: 01/10/2024

The University of Liège is the biggest French-speaking public university in Belgium. In employs more than 5,700 staff members across four campuses, including 3,600 active teachers and researchers in all fields of the human and social sciences, science and technology, and health sciences. In hosts nearly 27,000 students of 123 different nationalities in one of the most multicultural and dynamic cities in Europe, less than an hour from Brussels and Cologne, two hours from Paris, and three hours from London and Amsterdam.

Actively involved in the social and environmental transition, ULiège supports students to fulfil their roles as responsible citizens (training in sustainable development, Green Office, etc.) and promotes ethical, multidisciplinary and open research. ULiège is committed to the region in which it operates and contributes towards local socio-economic development. It has developed numerous partnerships, notably with the university hospital.  International and united, it participates in the European University of Post-Industrial Cities, UNIC initiative and has one of the most extensive collaborative networks in the world.

ULiège offers attractive career prospects in a high-quality working environment, promoting well-being, diversity and equality of opportunity.  Since 2011, ULiège has been proud to display the European Human resources strategy for researchers (HRS4R) label, which reflects its commitment to open, transparent and merit-based procedures. In addition, it recognises the quality and diversity of research in line with the recommendations of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). ULiège encourages its academic staff to travel internationally and welcomes international researchers through its EURAXESS centre.

Job description

A research logician post in the field of the SPECULLOS instrumental platform for exoplanetology, within the Astrobiology research unit.

This post will maintain Liège’s excellent international reputation for astrobiology (exoplanetology; origin and evolution of life in the Universe), ensure the continuity and development of high-quality research, and strengthen the national and international network, as well as to develop the research unit’s platform into a leading international facility.

Research Activities

The research logistician will enable the technical and operational management of the SPECULOOS network of telescopes (European Paranal Observatory, Chile; Tedie Observatory, Tenerife; San Pedro Martyr Observatory, Mexico) with a view to the optimal use of equipment and maximisation of its scientific potential. This will include its maintenance and support, developing research projects in exoplanetology (detection, habitability, atmospheric biosignatures), in partnership with scientists in the research unit and with the help of the development of analysis pipelines of exoplanet data (Exo-TRAPPIST, SPECULOOS, CHEOPS, HST/JWST recently launched, etc.). 

They will also participate in developing and commissioning the SPECULOOS Orion telescope that Uliège plans to install in the near future in Tenerife, thanks to funding from the Walloon region.

Services to the Community

• Outreach;
• Supervising researchers;
• Maintaining the SPECULOOS project website (speculoos.uliege.be) and the ASTROBIOLOGY research unit website (astrobiology.uliege.be).

Qualifications required / profile

• Hold a doctorate (in the field of astrophysics);
• Have solid instrumental expertise in exoplanetology and robotic observational astronomy;
• Be fluent in English.

Selection procedure

The selection procedure will be in accordance with the regulations applied within the University of Liège.
Our institutional policy is based on diversity and equal opportunities. We select candidates on the basis of their qualities regardless of age, sexual orientation, origin, beliefs, disability or nationality.

Applications

Applications should be made using the online form available on the following website: https://my.uliege.be/portail/go_xt.do?a=o%7C11004%7Ce%7C568815 no later than 10/03/2024 (before midnight Belgian time). Late applications may be refused.

Documents required:

• Cover letter;
• Full application (CV and list of publications, see the procedures on the website of the Faculty of Sciences at: https://www.sciences.uliege.be/emploi-sciences).

Recruitment conditions

The position shall be assigned either for a fixed term of four years, which may lead to the permanent appointment of the person concerned or on a permanent basis from the outset.

Information

Information about the vacancy and the recruitment procedure can be obtained from Mr Michael Gillon - tel.: +32 (0) 4 366 97 43 – michael.gillon@uliege.be

Any further information can be obtained from the administrative department of the Faculty: Ms Ninfa Greco – tel.: +32 (0) 4 366 50 41 – N.Greco@uliege.be 

Remuneration:

Salary scales and how they are applied are available from the human resources department of the University: Ms Ludivine Depas – tel.: +32 (0)4 366 52 04 – Ludivine.Depas@uliege.be