Deadline for applications: 30 September 2025

Location: IAA-CSIC, Granada (Spain)

Contract: Full-time, 2–3 years (extension possible), competitive salary aligned with CSIC postdoctoral scales. Start date flexible, with preference for the earliest possible start.

The SKA-Spain coordination team at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC), seeks a motivated Project Scientist (postdoctoral level) to play a key role in supporting the Spanish community’s preparation for SKA science and the international SKA Regional Centre Network.

Role:

●  Coordinate and support national SKA-related activities, prepare the community for SKA data, and foster multiwavelength/multimessenger scientific synergies and participation in SKAO activities.

●  Facilitate and support Spanish participation and leadership in Key Science Projects and early science activities.

●  Promote community awareness and readiness, through outreach, training, and engagement activities.

●  Become a reference point for SKA-related project development  and a trusted contact for the Spanish community.

●  Act as liaison with the Spanish SKA Regional Centre (espSRC)—the first SRC prototype to be internationally accredited within the SKA network— by gaining insight into its operation, tools and services, serving as an effective bridge with the community, and helping users maximise its resources to prepare competitive proposals and carry out cutting-edge research.

●  Organise and participate in national and international meetings relevant to national SKA participation.

●   Follow SKA developments and share relevant updates with the community.

●  Support fundraising applications related to SKA science and infrastructure.

The selected candidate will have 50% of their time available to pursue their own scientific research, preferably aligned with SKA-related topics.

Profile:

●  PhD in Astronomy with postdoctoral experience.

●  Extensive expertise in radio interferometry and familiarity with large observatories

●  Experience in science communication, project coordination or community engagement.

●  Excellent communication skills (spoken and written), fluency in English.

●  Availability to travel.

The position is based at the IAA-CSIC in Granada, a historic, vibrant city at the foot of the Sierra Nevada and a short drive from the Mediterranean coast. The successful candidate will be welcome to join the activities of the AMIGA group (~20 people), which integrates scientists, computational scientists, engineers, astroinformaticians, and communication and management staff. Led by Lourdes Verdes-Montenegro (PI of the AMIGA project – Analysis of the interstellar Medium of Isolated Galaxies), the group conducts research on galaxy evolution in extreme environments from a multiwavelength perspective, with emphasis on the atomic gas (HI) component using SKA precursors and pathfinders, and applying Open Science principles. We coordinate Spain’s scientific and technological participation in the SKA and lead the development of the espSRC, the first SKA Regional Centre prototype to be accredited internationally within the SRC Network. The AMIGA group is also a member of the SKA Communications and Outreach Network, leading outreach activities in Spain (e.g. contribution to the SKA Strategic Communication Plan, participation in radio/TV interviews, presentations to the general public, and event organisation). More information can be found on the AMIGA and the SKA-Spain websites.

Spain is a full member of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). This guarantees observing time for Spanish institutions once SKA telescopes are operational. The project is currently commissioning its first antenna arrays and preparing for the Early Science phase, expected around 2027. In the meantime, SKA precursors and pathfinders –such as MeerKAT and ASKAP– are already delivering unprecedented results across many areas of astrophysics, acting as both infrastructure testbeds and training grounds for the scientific community. The SRC Network is an international alliance of distributed centres that will host SKA data and support the global user community. This network integrates centres –such as the espSRC– that will provide data access, processing resources, software tools, training, and user support to enable effective scientific exploitation of SKA data.

To apply, please send the following documents to lourdes@iaa.es:

●  Curriculum Vitae.

●  Cover letter outlining research interests and suitability for the job (max 2 pages).

●  Three letters of recommendation

Equal Opportunities: The AMIGA group fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and dynamic work environment, with members from diverse scientific, social and cultural backgrounds. IAA-CSIC is committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or nationality, and provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs.