Two postdoctoral positions are offered to contribute to the technologoical development and preparation for the scientific exploitation of the X-IFU instrument on board the European Space Agency new Athena X-ray telescope as well other current and future X-ray missions. DEADLINE: 8 June, 2023

Postdoc offer 1: Development of the scientific simulator for the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) instrument on board the X-ray telescope Athena (European Space Agency). FILLED.

Goal: contribute to the development of the X-IFU science simulator. The tasks will include (but will not be limited to):

- Code optimization,
- Parallelization and implementation in Graphical Processing Units (GPUs).
- Implementation of the detector Physics (absorbers, crosstalk, background, etc)
- Adaptation to other X-ray missions with high resolution X-ray spectrometers
- Performing complex simulations for specific science cases
- Contribution to the Ground Segment software of X-IFU instrument
- Conduct X-ray astrophysics research

Postdoc offer 2: Development of advanced analysis tools for the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) instrument on board the X-ray telescope Athena (European Space Agency). FILLED.

Goal: contribute to the development of advanced tools for the analysis of X-IFU instrument spectra. The tasks will include (but will not be limited to):

- Development of machine learning techniques, neural network techniques to fit high resolution X-ray spectra and extract physical properties of the emitting plasma
- Development of fast optimization algorithms to fit high resolution X-ray spectra
- Contribution to the Ground Segment software of X-IFU instrument
- Conduct X-ray astrophysics research

Place: University of Alicante Institute of Physics Applied to Sciences and Technologies, Alicante, Spain

Duration: 1 year, starting early 2023 (~ end of March) and renewable up to June 2025

Salary: around 2480 Eu/month (gross), including taxes, social security, and insurance.

Candidates:
- Must hold a Doctorate in Physics, Mathematics or Engineering.
Special consideration will be given to candidates with:
- Experience in X-ray astrophysics data analysis
- Knowledge of advanced programming languages (Python, Slang, etc.)
- Knowledge of Machine Learning and Neural Network techniques
- Experience in the use of mathematical methods
- Good level of English
- Availability to travel to meetings and workshops abroad


Interested candidates can obtain more information and follow the application procedure available at:

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/110250