PRR Project

Summary

This is a position for an assistant researcher (PT: investigador auxiliar ), in the scientific domain of: exact sciences, scientific area: physical sciences, scientific subarea: astronomy, according to the FOS system used by FCT, with demonstrated expertise in observational astronomy, solar system sciences, and study of space debris, which aligns with the University of Coimbra’ Strategic Area: Digital, Industry and Space.The institution seeks a strong candidate to lead cutting-edge research in observational astronomy focused in solar system science, most particularly in minor bodies of the solar system, making use of ground-based and space-based telescope facilities, taking full advantage of the Portuguese memberships of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Such research, although being nationally led by our institution—led by the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA)—, is quite underrepresented in Portugal and we aim to strengthen it.Research on minor bodies of the solar system and their evolution acquired a renewed interest in recent years for several reasons, namely: i) the beginning of operations of the 6.5 m James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), able to detect a whole new series of ices on those objects, previously out of reach; ii) the planetary defense projects and the need to identify and characterize potentially threatening near-earth objects, an interest evidenced by ESA’s Hera space mission—with Portuguese participation—to be launched this year to follow-up the binary asteroid Didymos-Dimorphos, target of first real test of planetary defense technique thought an impact; iii) the identification of mineral resources in space that could be mined in the near future, being water a precious resource in space and probably the first one to be extracted; and iv) the national interest in the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and the new Space Safety Programs of the European Space Agency (ESA) subscribed by Portuguese Space Agency (Portugal Space). Furthermore, the University of Coimbra (UC)—led by IA—, is developing a space debris laboratory to study space debris samples and analogs, to be compared with observational data from orbiting space debris, being also involved in the recent ESA’ Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) funded project: “space debris algorithms on satellite constellation pictures for debris characterization and orbit determination”, to be used at one the very high-resolution satellites GEOSAT, to be launch in 2025, funded by the agenda “New Space Portugal” of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The candidate is expected to actively seek funding to develop this research, as well as to maintain an international network of collaborations, and to maintain a constant record of publications in peer-reviewed journals.The candidate is also expected to assist with the scientific coordination of the ongoing education and public outreach unit of the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory of UC, equipped with a digital planetarium, a museological collection, a spectroheliograph and a telescope dome, as well as to supervise undergraduate and graduate students of the several courses/diplomas at the University of Coimbra.This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced researcher to join a dynamic team and make a significant contribution to both the aforementioned fields of knowledge and to the UC.