Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Michelle Kuttel and Prof. Rob Simmonds
Next generation radio astronomy facilities such as the MeerKAT and Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescopes, and other SKA pathfinder telescopes are embarking on key science projects that will create very large data sets, intractable with traditional means.
The new data sets will be unprecedented in size and complexity. Moreover, the scientific analysis will require joint analysis with multi-wavelength data and comparative analysis with simulations.
Next generation visualization technologies and visual analytics tools will be an essential part of letting the data speak for itself and revealing new science.
The IDIA Visualization postdoctoral fellow will be part of the IDIA visualization laboratory based at the University of Cape Town and will join a team of researchers, developers and students working on visualization systems designed to meet the needs of the MeerKAT large survey projects and large programmes with other SKA pathfinders.
The IDIA visualization laboratory houses facilities for large format display immersive visualization and exploration of data through virtual reality projection.
In addition, IDIA works with the Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome on the development of modalities for astronomical data visualization with planetarium domes.
IDIA is also a partner with the US National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the CARTAvis Cube Analysis and Rendering Tool for Astronomy project.
The IDIA Visualization postdoctoral fellow is expected to engage in the development of visualization tools, in publishing papers about this work and may help with the supervision of graduate students using and developing visualization solutions requirements.
Applicants should have:
– a PhD in Astronomy, Computer Science or a related discipline within 5 years of their start date
– experience with programming in C, Python and in using visualization toolkits
– experience in radio astronomy data analysis and visualization or experience in development of visualization for scientific data.
Salary: R 370000 per annum.
Queries may be directed to admin@idia.ac.za.
To apply for this position, please send a cover letter, CV and statement of research to admin@idia.ac.za.
Please also arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to admin@idia.ac.za for attention Ms Nicky Walker.
Applications for this position will be considered at any time.