Through the National Research Foundation Research Chair Initiative, University of Cape Town (UCT) is offering a Postdoctoral Fellowship that is focused on using the recently upgraded Iziko Planetarium for research in astrophysics and related fields that require immersive visualisation. The candidate will work and liaise closely with the Iziko Planetarium University Consortium, led by Professor Thomas Jarrett (UCT), comprised of the University of Western Cape (UWC), Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and UCT in partnership with Iziko Museums, the NRF and DST. The mandate of the Consortium is to manage and drive the research side, exploit the facility for carrying out research in the physical, biological and medical field sciences, as well as engage with other interested groups (e.g., humanities and arts) associated with the universities. 

The successful applicant will be supervised by Professor Thomas Jarrett, Research Chair in Astrophysics and Space Science. Important tasks of the Research Liaison include: carry out immersive visualisation research of astrophysics data, such as from the SKAMeerKAT interferometer; creation of a trouble-shooting guide / Tutorial to facilitate the exploitation of the Planetarium from both hardware and software point of view; supervise the "research" schedule of the Planetarium in liaison with the rest of the Consortium team involved in the operations; creating and maintain a website that will collect all the relevant information regarding the research conducted at the Planetarium as well as advertise related events/meetings; engage with the Iziko Planetarium staff, help search for external collaborations for the production of novel Planetarium shows enriched with Local/African Cultures Contents. The appointed person will need to help in creating opportunities (e.g. public lectures series) for the Researches to showcase their work at the Planetarium and thus creating public engagement initiatives.

The Liaison should be based at Iziko Planetarium at least three days per week, and another two days per week at UCT. The appointed person will need to have experience with Planetarium software such as Uniview, Dark Matter, Partiview, and will serve as the contact person for any issues or clarification related to these software. Finally, candidates will be asked to help out with light departmental duties (e.g. seminars, journal clubs) and with postgraduate students’ supervision. This will be specified in an MOU signed with your supervisor upon arrival. The appointment is for three years, pending satisfactory work progress after a two year term. The annual value of the fellowship is R390,000, fully taxfree. Equipment and travel funding is also available. A PhD in astronomy or astrophysics is required; note however, applicants should have obtained their PhD degree within the last five years at the time of the position startup. Interested candidates should send a CV, bibliography, brief summary of experience with planetariums, and two letters of recommendation by 1 Feb 2019 to Mrs Roz Daniels (Roslyn.Daniels@uct.ac.za). Applications will be considered from that date until the position is filled. The position is available beginning early Mar 1, 2019.

Included Benefits: No benefit information has been provided by the employer

Please view the entire advert here

Please note that this position has now been filled, and is no longer open for application.