SKA- News and meetings

Electronics Design Engineer in Manchester, UK

Reference: EPS/80814

The University of Manchester (School of Physics and Astronomy) seeks a highly motivated Electronics Design Engineer to support research teams based at both Manchester city centre and Jodrell Bank Observatory.

You will contribute to two major research efforts:

Supporting the European Square Kilometre Array Design Study. This is a bold and innovative study project on the path to building the largest radio telescope ever a million square metres of radio receiver collecting area. This telescope will implement the world's fastest data processing techniques. The role will require especially careful electronic circuit design in order to maintain signal integrity throughout the system.
Supporting the Pulsar research at Jodrell Bank Observatory. This world leading group has a requirement for advanced signal processing electronics to bring out the highly detailed but extremely faint signals from rotating neutron stars found throughout the galaxy.

You should have or expect to gain a good degree in electronics engineering, or other relevant subject. You will need detailed knowledge of the challenges faced by analogue and digital engineers working at frequencies in excess of 1GHz.

Possessing good communication skills, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team, you should be able to make useful contribution toward the delivery of these projects.

This post is available from 1 September 2008 and will be offered on a fixed-term contract until 30 June 2009 with the possibility of contract extension to March 2010.

For further information about the post and how to apply, visit the Job Opportunities section of the University of Manchester website here. The closing date for applications is 6 August, 2008.

PhD Study in Perth, Australia

Are you an enthusiastic engineering or physics graduate (or near-graduate) with an interest in radio astronomy?

Would you like to undertake PhD studies in one of the World’s most beautiful and liveable capital cities? Bask in a wonderful mediterranean climate, swim at great beaches and be close to many wilderness areas?

If yes, then read on!

Curtin University of Technology, the largest university in Western Australia, has recently formed the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy under the joint leadership of Prof Peter Hall (engineering) and Prof Steven Tingay (science). As part of this initiative, and to boost the R&D capacity of major new WA radio astronomy Centres, Curtin is offering a limited number of high-value PhD scholarships to graduates from outside Australia and New Zealand. The scholarships cover all tuition fees, provide a good living allowance and include allowances for thesis preparation and production.

Perth is the nearest large city to the candidate Australian site for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and Curtin’s radio astronomy program is directed principally to SKA-related topics. Graduates with engineering, astronomy (especially VLBI and related areas) or cross-disciplinary interests are encouraged to apply. Some current engineering areas of interest include:

SKA system design and optimization;
RF systems for radio astronomy, including highly-integrated single-chip solutions;
Antenna design, especially sparse aperture arrays for the mid-band SKA;
Data transport solutions for the SKA, from sub-mm to trans-oceanic distances;
Cosmic radio transients and associated instrumentation and signal processing;
High performance computing – streaming and post-processing applications; and
Advanced infrastructure design, including renewable energy systems, for the SKA.

Curtin has strong links with many international universities and research institutes; favourable placement arrangements for graduates with existing attachments can often be negotiated. For general information on Curtin University refer to www.curtin.edu.au and for some background on Perth and WA start with www.westernaustralia.com. To discuss study opportunities, please contact Prof Peter Hall (P.Hall@curtin.edu.au). Applications close August 31, 2008 and interested students should make contact well before that date.

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