This is an "in-house" advance posting for the SDSS Observers recruitment. We're sending it first to the two general ARC e-mail exploders, also putting it on the APO www server, and shortly it will be advertised more generally once all the paperwork protocols are satisfied. Hiring is expected to begin asap and continue through next year. bg *************************** SDSS Observers Apache Point Observatory P.O. Box 59 Sunspot, NM 88349-0059 Attention: Bruce Gillespie, Site Operations Manager (gillespi@galileo.apo.nmsu.edu) New Mexico State University (NMSU) is seeking Observers to conduct observing programs for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) at Apache Point Observatory (APO) and participate in the Survey's scientific programs. Applicants should have experience in collecting and analyzing optical imaging and spectroscopic data. A Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, or related field is preferred, but all applicants with relevant experience and strong scientific motivation will be considered. The survey observing activities are expected to last at least five years, and it is hoped the successful applicants will be available for the duration. Initial appointments may be for a shorter time, with early review, but in any case will depend on the actual applicant and experience. APO is owned and operated by the Astrophysical Research Consortium; NMSU is the member institution responsible for observatory operations. Located near Sunspot, NM, the observatory has a 3.5-meter general-purpose telescope, plus the Sloan Digital Sky Survey 2.5-meter and 0.6-meter telescopes. NMSU also has its own 1.0-meter telescope at APO. The SDSS is a new, deep survey of the North Galactic Cap which includes CCD imaging in five filters to r' =3D 23.1, and medium-resolution spectroscopy t= o determine redshifts for a million galaxies and a hundred thousand quasars. The Survey is a collaboration of scientists at eight U.S. and foreign institutions; it is expected that the Observers will become full collaborators in the scientific effort. Primary responsibilities include hands-on and console operations of the 2.5-m and 0.6-m telescopes. Night-time operations also include monitoring the data stream from the imaging camera, the spectrographs, and the 0.6-m telescope; evaluating the on-line quality assurance information; and making a variety of tactical decisions about the night's observing plan to maximize the benefit to the Survey. Observers will work cooperatively with the data-reduction team at Fermilab to formulate nightly and monthly observing plans based on the success of prior observations. Observers will also report, for each night of observation, information needed for subsequent data reduction; instrument maintenance; and telescope configuration for the following night's observations. Responsibilities initially will focus on assisting with the engineering commissioning and scientific testing phases. This work will include extension of the Observer software interface, and expanding user documentation. There is considerable flexibility in the assignment of responsibilities, since the Observers will comprise a pool of at least four individuals. Some work could include daytime evaluation of systems performance as part of the quality-assurance effort and planning later observations. It is also possible that Observers could rotate to Fermilab to work on the Survey data reduction. Applicants should have strong technical, mechanical, and engineering skills, with hands-on experience in the operation of telescopes, CCDs, spectrographs, vacuum systems, and cryogenics. Computer skills are mandatory, and an electronics background is desirable, as is experience with telescope control systems and data analysis packages. Applicants should possess good communication skills, be able to work effectively with members of a large and diverse collaboration, and exhibit initiative and reliability. Work will be on a non-standard schedule mutually agreed to by the observing staff and the site operations supervisor. Submit letter of application and r=E9sum=E9 (giving the names, addresses, an= d phone numbers of three references). Positions will be filled when suitable candidates are identified. Offers of employment are contingent upon funding and eligibility for employment in the U.S. For additional information, contact the above or Dr. Richard Kron, Survey Director at rich@oddjob.uchicago.edu. EEO/AA APO APO APO APO APO Apache Point Observatory 3.5m APO APO APO APO APO This is message 96 in the apo35-general archive. You can find APO the archive on http://www.astro.princeton.edu/APO/apo35-general/INDEX.html APO To join/leave the list, send mail to apo35-request@astro.princeton.edu APO To post a message, mail it to apo35-general@astro.princeton.edu APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO