What are the responsibilities and job description for the Astrophysicist (Postdoctoral Research Fellow) (IS-1330-11) position at Smithsonian Institution?
Description
OPENING DATE : January 7, 2025
CLOSING DATE : February 28, 2025
TYPE OF POSITION : Trust Temporary, Not to Exceed 2 years, with the possibility of a third-year extension (Non-Federal)
DIVISION : Office of Director
LOCATION : Cambridge, MA
AREA OF CONSIDERATION : This position is open to all eligible candidates.
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit / Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Childcare), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
- Complete a Probationary Period if applicable.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit / Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.
SUMMARY
The purpose of this position is to participate in the development of methods to leverage Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance scientific research and to combine them with representation learning methods for astronomical data (images, spectra, light curves, X-ray event files), to extract meaningful correlations between astronomical literature and astronomical data, through the use of contrastive learning approaches. The candidate will join a team of multidisciplinary researchers, including astronomers, natural language processing experts, and computer scientists working at the intersection between astronomy and artificial intelligence.
MAJOR DUTIES
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements :
A. Degree : in one or a combination of astronomy, physics, mathematics, space science, or electronics. The coursework must include differential and integral calculus and 12 semester hours in astronomy and / or physics.
B. Combination of education and experience at least 30 semester hours of courses equivalent to a major in any combination of astronomy, space science, physics, mathematics, and electronics, with required course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to the basic requirements, candidates for the grade 11 must also possess one of the following :
A. Master's or equivalent graduate degree; or
B. Minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 9 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies / knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position such as processing scientific data, conducting research, and publishing scientific journal articles.
C. Combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and experience equivalent to the above.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required :
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next : Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualifications and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact hr@cfa.harvard.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures .
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer . We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information : https : / / www.si.edu / oeesd .
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in our workplace. Please visit the SAO website at http : / / www.cfa.harvard.edu /
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and 14 education and research facilities. There are more than 6,500 Smithsonian employees, including approximately 500 scientists. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at more than 157 million.
Salary : $83,742
