Missions

Support astronomer involved in the Observatory's Scientific Operations

Activités

- As queue coordinator (QC), prepare queues of possible observations and communicate prior-ities to Remote Observers, CFHT staff members responsible for observing
- Assist resident astronomers with data reduction
- Distribute data to Principal Investigators and collaborators
- Provide support to users during proposal preparation (phase 1), observation preparation (phase 2) and data reduction
- Carry out technical evaluations of proposals during phase 1 and review programs entered during phase 2
- Validate exposures taken at night, verify accuracy of observation logs
- Monitor and characterize instrument health, performance and stability
- Write and maintain documentation
- Participate in outreach activities
- Participate in community engagement activities

Compétences

Candidates must:
- Have a strong background in the physics of scientific instruments, in particular astronomical instruments
- Have in-depth knowledge of scientific instrument operations and data analysis
- Ideally, have experience in data reduction for astronomy
- Master English at an experienced level
- Have experience in outreach
- Have interpersonal and emotional skills that enable them to understand complex intercommunity and multicultural relationships

- Have the ability and desire to learn about and understand the history of Hawaiʻi, its socio-cultural issues, and in particular those related to the development of astronomy.

Contexte de travail

CFHT is a non-profit US organization, also a CNRS research support unit (UAR), funded by and for the benefit of CNRS, the National Research Council Canada (NRC) and the University of Hawaiʻi. CFHT is located on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, and comprises the headquarters located in Waimea (Kamuela) and the Observatory located at the summit of Maunakea at an altitude of 4,200 meters. Maunakea is a mountain of great ecological, cultural and spiritual importance to Hawaiʻi's native population. CFHT collaborates with the other Maunakea Observatories. The position is to work within the Observatory's Astronomy Group, in charge of scientific operations: preparing and executing observations, processing data and making it available to users. A close relationship with the user community in France will be privileged. Outreach and community engagement activities are expected.

Contraintes et risques

The work will be carried out at the CFHT headquarters in Hawaiʻi. The job ideally, but not necessarily, requires the ability to work at 4200 m altitude and the ability to drive a vehicle. The position requires occasional availability outside normal working hours and/or on weekends. Short to medium-term travel in France (from Hawaiʻi) and abroad is to be expected.