Jobs

The WVU Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology (GWAC) Diversity Fellowship was established to support the development of an early career scholar from a diverse background (with particular attention to historically underrepresented groups in the academy) who show promise as a researcher, mentor, and teacher. The successful candidate will be mentored by GWAC faculty and be supported through numerous professional development activities, with the intent that a successful postdoctoral fellow joins the West Virginia University faculty at the end of the postdoc.The GWAC Diversity Postdoctoral Fellow will carry out a research program that is synergistic with current research activities in the Center that focus on studies of compact objects, the interstellar medium, general relativity, gravitational waves, radio transients, and galaxy formation and evolution. The postdoctoral fellow will also teach one course in their second and third years, closely mentored by Center faculty, and is expected to contribute to outreach and to the Center’s mission of equity and inclusion. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Responsibilities are functional in nature and performed under limited supervision. Specific tasks include, but are not limited to:

• 55% Carry out an independent program of research relating to compact objects, the interstellar medium, general relativity, gravitational waves, radio transients, and/or galaxy formation and evolution.
• 5% Mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students in research projects.
• 5% Attend research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current research findings.
• 5% Identify and assist with acquisition of funding from public, private, and governmental sources.
• Assist with development of novel research proposals for sponsor submission.
• Write proposals, papers, and abstracts to attract research funds.
• 5% Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for research goals.
• 5% Write and present research/study status reports for review and use of Principal Investigator(s).
• 5% Prepare results of research findings for presentation to colleagues and sponsors; at professional/technical conferences; and/or, for publication in scientific journals, as directed.  
• 5% Contribute to the Center’s outreach activities.  
• 5% Contribute to the Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. 
• 5% Teach one Physics and Astronomy Department course in each of Years 2 and 3. – 20%; Time commitments of other activities reduced accordingly

 Qualifications:

• PhD in Astronomy, Physics or a related discipline
• At least three (3) years; experience gained as a graduate student is sufficient.
• Experience with astrophysics research related to the Center’s mission.
• Skills related to research relating to compact objects, the interstellar medium, general relativity, gravitational waves, radio transients, and/or galaxy formation and evolution
• Code development and data analysis skills
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication
• Experience in science outreach and education
• Clear knowledge and/or experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

A more detailed description can be found at:  https://wvu.taleo.net/careersection/wvu_research/jobdetail.ftl?job=17990&tz=GMT-04%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York

Post-Doctoral Fellow - Department of Physics and Astronomy (ECAS)
October 27, 2021

The West Virginia University Research Corporation invites applications for a NANOGrav Physics Frontier Center Postdoctoral Fellow in supermassive binary black hole astrophysics and gravitational-wave detection with pulsars in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at West Virginia University (WVU). The successful applicant would join the WVU Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology, whose primary goal is to probe the Universe through gravitational and electromagnetic wave observations, theory, instrumentation, and data analytics. 

A PhD in Astronomy, Physics or a related discipline is required. The applicant will work in collaboration with Dr. Sarah Burke-Spolaor on projects involving multi-messenger studies of supermassive black holes, searches/algorithmic development for gravitational waves in pulsar timing array data, other general pulsar and gravitational-wave astrophysics, and other independent research projects of interest to the applicant in areas that will broaden the impact of the Center. The applicant will also work closely with the NANOGrav (North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves) collaboration.

In order to be successful in this position, the ideal candidate will: 

• Carry out an independent program of research relating to binary supermassive black holes, pulsars, and/or low-frequency gravitational-wave astrophysics.
• Attend weekly NANOGrav teleconferences.
• Mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students in NANOGrav-related research projects.
• Attend research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current research findings.
• Identify and assist with acquisition of funding from public, private, and governmental sources.
  • Assist with development of novel research proposals for sponsor submission.
  • Write proposals, papers, and abstracts to attract research funds.
• Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for research goals.
• Perform laboratory and field experiment activities according to protocol.
  • Independent experimental data analysis.
  • Maintain detailed logs of work-related activities, including accurate laboratory records and data on research methods, procedures, and results.
• Oversee research facilities and personnel
  • Assure compliance with research protocols and safety requirements.
  • Oversee and direct undergraduate and graduate researchers in the completion of experiments.
  • Maintain lab equipment; keep accurate inventory of lab assets; monitor and assure proper use and conditions of lab equipment.
• Write and present research/study status reports for review and use of the Principal Investigator.
• Prepare results of experimental findings for presentation to colleagues and the sponsor; at professional/technical conferences; and/or, for publication in scientific journals, as directed.

 Qualifications: 

• PhD in Astronomy, Physics or a related discipline.
• No experience required (new PhDs acceptable).
• 3 years, counting dissertation work also as experience.
• Experience related to supermassive binary black hole astrophysics and/or  low-frequency gravitational wave detection with pulsars, code development, and data analysis.

A more detailed description can be found at:  https://wvu.taleo.net/careersection/wvu_research/jobdetail.ftl?job=16996&tz=GMT-04%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York

The WVU Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences (ECAS) at West Virginia University, with the WVU Research Corporation is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow. The Postdoctoral Fellow will carry out a research program that is synergistic with current research activities in the Center, which includes theoretical and/or observational studies of compact objects, the interstellar medium, general relativity, gravitational waves, radio transients, and galaxy formation and evolution. The GWAC Postdoctoral Fellow will also contribute to Center outreach and education efforts. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Responsibilities are functional in nature, and performed under limited supervision. Specific tasks include, but are not limited to:

• 60% Carry out an independent program of research relating to compact objects, the interstellar medium, general relativity, gravitational waves, radio transients, and/or galaxy formation and evolution.
• 5% Mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students in research projects.
• 5% Attend research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current research findings.
• 5% Identify and assist with acquisition of funding from public, private, and governmental sources.
• 5% Assist with development of novel research proposals for sponsor submission.
• 5% Write proposals, papers, and abstracts to attract research funds.
• 5% Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for research goals.
• 5% Write and present research/study status reports for review and use of Principal Investigator(s).
• 5% Prepare results of research findings for presentation to colleagues and sponsors; at professional/technical conferences; and/or, for publication in scientific journals, as directed.  
• 10% Contribute to the Center’s outreach and education activities.  

Qualifications:  

• PhD in Astronomy, Physics or a related discipline
• At least three years (can be as part of graduate thesis research)
• Experience in astrophysics research related to the goals of the Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology
• Skills related to research relating to compact objects, the interstellar medium, general relativity, gravitational waves, radio transients, and/or galaxy formation and evolution
• Code development and data analysis skills
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication
• Experience in science outreach and education

Project Manager – International Pulsar Timing Array, Department of Physics and Astronomy (ECAS)
October 27, 2021

The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences (ECAS) at West Virginia University, with the WVU Research Corporation is seeking applications for an International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) Project Manager. The Project Manager will coordinate IPTA activities, resources, and communications. Tasks include coordinating dataset combination and gravitational wave analyses, overseeing the development of cyber-infrastructure for data sharing and processing, managing working group tasks and timelines, determining resources needed for critical tasks, organizing meetings and telecons, and assisting with reporting for the AccelNet award. The tasks and timelines will be established by the project manager in coordination with the IPTA Steering Committee (IPTASC). The IPTA project manager will attend all IPTASC telecons, and will report to both the IPTASC and McLaughlin (as PI of the award). 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Coordinating IPTA activities, resources, and communications, including: 

• 25% Coordinating dataset combination and gravitational wave analyses
• 10% Overseeing the development of cyber-infrastructure for data sharing and processing
• 25% Managing working group tasks and timelines
• 15% Determining resources needed for critical tasks
• 5% Organizing meetings and telecons
• 5% Assisting with reporting to funding agencies
• 10% Attending IPTASC and IPTA working group telecons and IPTA meetings
• 5% Maintaining records and documentation

 Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in astronomy, physics, project management, or related fields
• At least three (3) years of experience in management of research project management, including funding and personnel allocation and timelines.
• At least three (3) years of experience working with partners in multiple countries.
• Management of research projects, including funding and personnel allocation and timelines
• Familiarity with astrophysics research
• Experience in data management and analysis of large datasets
• Familiarity with IPTA research and radio pulsar data and analyses
• Familiarity with cyber-infrastructure development for research and educational purposes
• Experience in science outreach and education
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, organization, and consensus-driven decision making
• Willingness and ability to attend telecons outside of normal working hours
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally to IPTA meetings and workshops

A more detailed description can be found at:  https://wvu.taleo.net/careersection/wvu_research/jobdetail.ftl?job=17973&tz=GMT-04%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York

Computer Engineer – International Pulsar Timing Array, Department of Physics and Astronomy (ECAS)
October 27, 2021

The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences (ECAS) at West Virginia University, with the WVU Research Corporation is seeking applications for an International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) Computer Engineer. The IPTA Computer Engineer will be primarily responsible for developing and maintaining cyber-infrastructure to: manage heterogenous astronomy data from multiple observatories; reproducibly process data in a variety of ways, including with Jupyter Notebooks; package pipelines for instantiation on a variety of computing resources, including with Docker and Singularity containers; and manage IPTA communications. The successful candidate will work with the IPTA project manager and participate in the IPTA cyberinfrastructure, analysis and Education and Public Outreach working groups, in addition to working directly with the cyberinfrastructure experts in each constituent Pulsar Timing Array.  

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Developing and maintaining cyber-infrastructure to:

• 70% Manage heterogenous astronomy data from multiple observatories
• Reproducibly process data in a variety of ways, including with Jupyter Notebooks
• Package pipelines for instantiation on a variety of computing resources, including with Docker and Singularity   
• containers
• Manage IPTA communications
• 10% Working directly with the IPTA project manager
• 15% Working directly with the cyberinfrastructure experts in each constituent Pulsar Timing Array.  
• 5% Attending IPTA telecons for cyberinfrastructure, analysis and Education and Public Outreach working groups and IPTA meetings

 Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, astronomy, physics, or related fields 
• At least three (3) years of experience in cyber-infrastructure management
• Cyber-infrastructure management
• Experience in data management and analysis of large datasets
• Familiarity with astrophysics research
• Familiarity with IPTA research and radio pulsar data and analyses
• Familiarity with cyber-infrastructure development for research and educational purposes
• Experience in science outreach and education
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication
• Willingness and ability to attend telecons outside of normal working hours
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally to IPTA meetings and workshops

A more detailed description can be found at:  https://wvu.taleo.net/careersection/wvu_research/jobdetail.ftl?job=17976&tz=GMT-04%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York