Actualités du laboratoire Lagrange

Détails

Mis à jour : 13 Avril 2022

Research engineer
Instrumental development

Job offer: fixed term contract (H2020_AdG 2020: Project 101019953 ISSP)
Level: Master
Salary: Depending on experience, research engineer level
Type of position: Science of engineering and scientific instrumentation; expert in development of instrument
Situation : Université Côte d’Azur – Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur - Laboratoire LAGRANGE – Bâtiment Fizeau du Campus Valrose (Nice)

Description of Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur :
The Côte d'Azur Observatory, Lagrange Laboratory, ERC ISSP Project (Interferometric Survey of Stellar Parameters, PI D. Mourard) is recruiting a research engineer in instrumentation for 2 years from September 1, 2021, in within the framework of the CHARA/SPICA instrument project. This project consists of the installation of a new 6-telescope visible interferometric instrument on the CHARA array at Mount Wilson (CA, USA) as well as the installation of a 6-telescope infrared fringe tracker. The ISSP project is based on a large survey of stellar parameters of around 1,000 stars in three years, starting in mid-2022. The integration of the instruments is underway in Nice and at Mount Wilson and the commissioning is scheduled for the winter of 2021-2022.

Description of the position:
The engineer will have the responsibility, along with the project team, of optimizing the operations of the instrument so as to achieve full performance and a level of automation compatible with the ambition of the large observational survey. This will involve working, in conjunction with the project's IT specialists, on the calibrations of the various opto-mechanical modules (longitudinal dispersion compensators, atmospheric refraction compensators, internal delay lines, birefringence correction, etc.) and optimization of their performance and operations to maximize observation time and reduce the intervals between two stars. A special effort will be made on the link between the fiber injection modules and the adaptive optics systems of CHARA in order to maximize the efficiency of the instrument. This work will also be in close relation with the instrument data reduction pipeline in order to control instrument or calibration biases.

Main activities
• Study the scientific needs, propose the techniques and methods of measurement, characterization or adapted observations.
• Analyze metrological constraints and design or develop the experimentation and measurement chain.
• Manage the realization of measurements, interpret and validate them.
• Train and inform on the principles and implementation of experimental devices and ensure operational safety.
• Present, disseminate and promote the achievements.
• Advisor in his field of expertise

Skills
Experience in astronomical instrumentation is required, ideally in the field of high angular resolution. Necessary skills in physical measurements, data analysis are required. Fluency in English is required.
Conditions
The position assumes regular mobility in the United States at Mount Wilson in California for the various phases of sky tests and instrumentation optimization. Many observations will take place remotely from the Plateau de Calern site of the Côte d´Azur Observatory.

Contact :
Denis Mourard, Philippe Bério
denis.mourard@oca.eu, philippe.berio@oca.eu

Détails

Mis à jour : 3 Juin 2021

INGENIEUR.E DE RECHERCHE
Développement Instrumental

Type de Recrutement : CDD (H2020_AdG 2020: Project 101019953 ISSP)
Niveau : BAC+5 minimum
Salaire : niveau Ingénieur de Recherche et selon expérience (5 à 10 ans)
Branche d’Activité Professionnelle : Sciences de l’Ingénieur et Instrumentation Scientifique
Localisation du Poste : Université Côte d’Azur – Laboratoire LAGRANGE – Bâtiment Fizeau du Campus Valrose (Nice)
Métier de Rattachement : Expert en Développement d’Instrument

Description de l’employeur :
L’Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Laboratoire Lagrange, Projet ERC ISSP (Interferometric Survey of Stellar Parameters, PI D. Mourard) recrute un.e ingénieur.e de recherche en instrumentation pour 2 ans à compter du 1er septembre 2021, dans le cadre du projet d’instrument CHARA/SPICA. Ce projet consiste en l’installation d’un nouvel instrument de recombinaison interférométrique visible à 6 télescopes sur le réseau CHARA au Mount Wilson (CA, USA) ainsi que de la mise en place d’un suiveur de franges infrarouge à 6 télescopes. Le projet ISSP s’appuie sur un grand relevé de paramètres stellaires d’environ 1000 étoiles en trois ans, à partir de la mi-2022. L’intégration des instruments est en cours à Nice et au Mount Wilson et la mise en opération est prévue durant l’hiver 2021-2022.

Mission Générale du Poste :
L’ingénieur.e prendra en charge, avec l’équipe projet, l’optimisation des opérations de l’instrument de façon à atteindre les performances complètes et un niveau d’automatisation compatible avec l’ambition du grand relevé observationnel. Il s‘agira en particulier de travailler, en lien avec les informaticiens du projet, sur les étalonnages des différents modules opto-mécaniques (compensateurs de dispersion longitudinale, réfraction atmosphérique, lignes à retard interne, correction de la biréfringence…) et l’optimisation de leurs performances et de leurs opérations pour maximiser le temps d’observation et réduire les intervalles entre deux étoiles. Un effort particulier sera mené sur le lien entre les modules d’injection et les systèmes d’optique adaptative de CHARA afin de maximiser l’efficacité de l’instrument. Ce travail s’intégrera aussi dans le cadre du pipeline de réduction des données de l’instrument de façon à maitriser les biais instruments ou de calibration.

Activités Principales : ▪ Etudier les besoins scientifiques, proposer les techniques et méthodes de mesure, de caractérisation ou d'observations adaptées ▪ Analyser les contraintes métrologiques et concevoir ou faire évoluer la chaîne d'expérimentation et de mesure ▪ Piloter la réalisation des mesures, les interpréter et les valider ▪ Former et informer sur les principes et la mise en oeuvre des dispositifs expérimentaux et assurer la sécurité de fonctionnement ▪ Présenter, diffuser et valoriser les réalisations ▪ Conseiller dans son domaine d'expertise

Compétences :
Une expérience en instrumentation astronomique est requise, idéalement dans le domaine de la haute résolution angulaire. Des compétences nécessaires en mesures physiques, analyse de données sont demandées. La maitrise de l’anglais est nécessaire.

Conditions d’Exercice :
La fonction demandée suppose des mobilités régulières aux Etats-Unis au Mount Wilson en Californie pour les différentes phases de tests sur le ciel et d’optimisation de l’instrumentation. De nombreuses observations auront lieu à distance depuis le site du Plateau de Calern de l’Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur.
Contact :
Denis Mourard, Philippe Bério
denis.mourard@oca.eu , philippe.berio@oca.eu

Détails

Mis à jour : 17 Mai 2021

Deadline June 30 2021

Project description

Evolved cool stars are major cosmic engines, providing strong mechanical, chemical, and radiative feedback on their host environment. Through strong stellar winds, still poorly understood, they enrich their environment with chemical elements, which are the building blocks of planets and life. These objects are known to propel strong stellar winds that carry the mass and angular momentum of the stars' surfaces at speeds that vary with stellar brightness, evolution phase and chemical composition. A complete understanding of their evolution in the near and distant Universe can only be achieved with a detailed knowledge of wind physics across the life cycle of these stars as well as in relation to their circumstellar environment. Our project PEPPER, funded by ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche), aims at building a coherent and comprehensive description of the mass-loss mechanism thanks to stateof- the-art global dynamical simulations, in full 3D geometry. PEPPER includes several nodes in France (Lagrange-Nice, LUPM-Montpellier, IRAP-Toulouse, LAB-Bordeaux, and LESIA-Paris) which represent all the national laboratories where stellar physics and, in particular, evolved stars are actively studied simultaneously from an observational, theoretical, or instrumental point of view.

The post-doctoral researcher will work at the Observatory of Côte d’azur (OCA, Nice, France) together with Dr. Andrea Chiavassa (Lagrange laboratory, OCA, Nice, France), and Dr. Bernd Freytag (Uppsala University, Sweden) on the computation/analysis of a new grid of evolved stars simulations including the magnetic field. These simulations are of paramount importance for the project. They will provide knowledge basis on mechanisms launching evolved stars winds, thanks to the magneto-convection processes. More information on project PEPPER can be found at https://lagrange.oca.eu/fr/welcome-to-anr-pepper

Requirements

The successful candidate should have a PhD degree or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in Astronomy or Physics.

By June, 30, enthusiastic candidates should send:

• a CV including a publication list (4 pages max),
• a statement of research interests (2 pages max),
• arrange for three letters of reference to be provided separately to andrea.chiavassa@oca.eu using « PEPPER postdoc » in the email header.

Additional qualifications

Candidates with practical experience with relevant numerical simulations (gas dynamics, radiative transfer), will be considered a merit and are strongly encouraged to apply.

Starting date

Later applications will be considered until the position has been filled. The nominal start date is Nov, 1, 2021 (negotiable).

Environment

The postdoctoral researcher will be working at the Observatoire de la Cote d’Azur (www.oca.eu), which hosts the Laboratoire Lagrange (astrophysics, https://
lagrange.oca.eu/fr/accueil-lagrange). Nice is a beautiful city along the Mediterranean Sea (French Riviera) at the foot of the Alps. The Observatory is located on a hilltop above the city with impressive views on all sides.

Further information can be found here: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/researcher

Included Benefits

Position is for two years. Net annual salary is set by national guidelines starting at 27600 € and it is commensurate with the level of experience. Included: National medical insurance, maternity/ paternity leaves, family supplement for children, participation to public transport fees, pension contributions. School is free in France for children above 3.

For further information and for submitting the application, please contact Dr. Andrea Chiavassa (andrea.chiavassa@oca.eu), CNRS researcher and PI of project PEPPER. First selection
will take place after the deadline (30/06/2021) with subsequent selections thereafter until the position has been filled.

Download the job description.

Détails

Mis à jour : 6 Octobre 2020

Postdoctoral position in GW astrophysics

Applications are invited for a 3 year Postdoctoral position to work with Dr. Astrid Lamberts and her group on gravitational wave astrophysics (French ANR Research grant COSMERGE) at the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur in Nice, France.
The project includes any of the following aspects:
– massive binary evolution, including binary population synthesis methods
– global star formation and cosmological simulations
– GW signal modeling and Bayesian analysis
The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. in Astrophysics or GW physics. Proficiency in one of the topics above is recommended. Candidates with experience in Bayesian analysis are strongly encouraged to apply.

By Nov, 15, enthusiastic candidates should send:
i)a CV including a publication list (4p max),
ii) a statement of research interests (2p max),
iii) arrange for three letters of reference to be provided separately
Send all materials to astrid.lamberts@oca.eu using “COSMERGE postdoc” in the email header.

Later applications will be considered until the position has been filled. The nominal start date
is Oct, 1, 2021 (negotiable).

Environment: The postdoctoral researcher will be working at the Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, which hosts the Laboratoire Lagrange (astrophysics, https://lagrange.oca.eu/fr/accueil-lagrange ) and the Laboratoire Artémis (experimental physics for GW detection https://artemis.oca.eu/fr/accueil-artemis). The primary affiliation of the postdoctoral researcher will depend on his/her research interests. The postdoctoral researcher will be a member of the Virgo collaboration.

Nice is a beautiful city along the Mediterranean Sea (French Riviera) at the foot of the Alps.
The Observatory is located on a hilltop above the city with impressive views on all sides.

Included Benefits:
The salary is set by national guidelines and is commensurate with experience.
Included: National medical insurance, maternity/paternity leaves, family supplement for children, participation to public transport fees, pension contributions. School is free in France for children above 3.