Leiden Observatory is inviting applications to join our team and work on improving the near-IR imaging pipeline for the Euclid satellite, which was launched in July 2023 and is now in full operation. The main objective of the mission is to shed light on the nature of dark matter and dark energy by mapping the distribution of matter and galaxies over a third of the sky. The NIR imaging data play an essential role in determining accurate photometric redshifts, to discover high-redshift objects, and to find objects in the Solar system. To achieve these challenging objectives, the pipeline needs to be updated/upgraded and maintained using in-flight data and lessons learned from the ongoing processing.

Therefore, we are looking for a researcher with strong programming skills, or a programmer with a relevant research background to work with Henk Hoekstra, Rychard Bouwens, Joe Hennawi, Bram Venemans and other members of the OU-NIR team to work on the near-IR pipeline for the Euclid Science Ground Segment.
The appointment will be for a period of two years, with the possibility of an extension to three years, based on performance and the availability of funding. High-level programming skills and possibly previous experience on Euclid preparatory work will be important criteria for selection. Experience with (near-IR) imaging observations is a strong advantage. The successful candidate should preferably hold a PhD in Astronomy at the moment of taking the position. The position comes with full benefits and a competitive salary. Preference will be given to candidates who can begin work immediately.

Leiden Observatory is the oldest university astronomy department in the world and the largest astronomy department in the Netherlands, with research ranging from cosmology and galaxy formation to astrochemistry. Leiden is a charming university town with an international flair, located nearby Amsterdam.