IUCAA Astronomy Education Assistant - Zilla Parishad, Pune Project

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA); Pune District; On-site; INR 355,000 - 426,000; Full time

Job summary

IUCAA in Pune invites applications for a one-year project post under ZP, Pune School Programmes. The candidate will assist in science outreach, content creation, and coordination of awareness sessions for teachers and students, including travel to rural areas. The role requires communication in English, Marathi, and Hindi, and willingness to work weekends.

The appointment is temporary; compensation is Rs. 35,000 per month.

Qualifications

• First class B.Sc. or B.E. (M.Sc./Ph.D. desirable)
• Strong knowledge of science and astronomy.
• Proficiency in English, Marathi, Hindi communication.
• Proficiency in Office and design/layout software.
• Good social and management skills with creative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with logistics of conduction of selection tests and interviews along with scientific itinerary research.
• Creation of content material and activities for awareness sessions of ZP students during the programme visits.
• Coordinating outreach events: 26 awareness sessions, 13 teacher trainings, 13 IUCAA visits, 2 expert sessions (per academic year).
• Scheduling extra school visits and special exposure camps.
• Design, layout and illustration of materials for 30 activities developed at IUCAA SciPOP for STEM outreach.
• Coordinating translation of material to Marathi.
• Assisting in evaluation of pedagogical utility of materials.
• Documentation via photo collection, reports, video journals and website updates.
• Assisting with other IUCAA outreach programmes.

Skills

Science & Astronomy knowledge

English Marathi Hindi communication

Social & management skills

Creative mindset

Education

First class B.Sc. or B.E.

M.Sc./Ph.D. desirable

Tools

Office

Design/layout software

CAD software

Job description

Introduction

The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) is an autonomous

institution set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India to promote the nucleation

and growth of active groups in astronomy and astrophysics at Indian universities. IUCAA aims

to be a Centre of excellence within the university sector for teaching, research and development

in astronomy and astrophysics.

Position Details

1. Name of the postProject

2. Funding Agency IUCAA, under ZP, Pune School Programmes budget

3. No. of post(s) One

4. Tenure One year

5. Pay/ Remuneration Rs. 35,000/- p.m.

6. Age Not more than 35 years

Qualifications

First class B.Sc. or B.E. (M.Sc. / Ph.D. desirable) Skills:i. Good Science and Astronomy knowledge.ii. Ability to cheerfully communicate about Science in English,

Marathi and Hindi and (fluency expected in both written and

iii. Excellent technical writing and computer aided design skills including proficiency in using Office and standard design/layout software.

iv. Good social and management skills with a creative mindset and positive scientific attitude.

Experience

i. Some experience in Science popularization involving teachers and school students.

ii. Familiarity with different educational and cultural environments as well as N.E.P. and Maharashtra state board school syllabus.

iii. Experience in educational material creation.

Job Description

• Assisting with logistics of conduction of selection tests and interviews along with scientific itinerary research.
• Creation of content material and activities for the awareness sessions of ZP students to be conducted during the 4-5 different visits under this programme.
• Coordinating the planned outreach events viz. 26 awareness sessions, 13 teacher trainings, 13 IUCAA visits, 2 expert sessions (per academic year, as mentioned in MoU).
• Scheduling any required extra school visits along with other special exposure camps.
• Design, layout and illustration of customised student and educator material for a compilation of about 30 activities developed at IUCAA SciPOP for STEM outreach.
• Coordinating translation of the material to Marathi.
• Assisting in evaluation of the pedagogical utility of the material and activities conducted.
• Documentation of the project via photo collection and written reports / video journals / website updates.
• Assisting with other regular IUCAA outreach programmes

Note: This is a full time position and the candidate is expected to be present for all events including those on weekends. The candidate has to be willing to travel to and conduct events in rural environs.

General Information / Details About the Post

1) The appointment is purely temporary and will terminate automatically without any notice or compensation on the termination.

2) The appointed person shall have no claim of appointment/ absorption in the Funding Agency or in IUCAA, Pune.

3) Appointment of the applicant will be governed by the terms and conditions of the funding agency particularly applicable to the said project.

4) The qualification prescribed should have been obtained from recognized Universities/ Institutions.

5) Candidates should possess the requisite experience (if any) as on the closing date for submission of application.

6) The prescribed Essential Qualifications/ Experience indicated are bare minimum and mere possession of same will not entitle the candidates to be called for interview/ selection process. Where the number of applications received in response to an advertisement is large, it may not be convenient or possible to call all the candidates. The Centre reserves the right to restrict the number of candidates to be called for written exam/ skill test/ interview to a reasonable limit, on the basis of qualifications and experience higher than that of the minimum prescribed in the advertisement. The candidates should, therefore, furnish full details of qualifications and experience possessed in the relevant fields, over and above the minimum prescribed. Documentary evidences of qualification and experience will be verified during the selection process. Any discrepancy found in documents of candidates will lead to cancellation of their candidature.

7) The applicant will be solely and entirely responsible for the authenticity of information submitted/ documents and photograph. It is the responsibility of the candidate to assess his/ her own eligibility to the post(s) for which he/ she is appearing in accordance to this advertisement. If it is detected at any time in future, during the process of selection or even

after appointment that the candidate was not eligible as per the prescribed rules of the Centre which could not be detected at the time of selection for whatsoever reason, his/her candidature/appointment shall be liable to be cancelled/ terminated immediately.

8) All information regarding the selection process shall be communicated through email.

9) No TA/DA will be admissible for appearing for the selection process.

10) The number of posts indicated may increase or decrease as per the Centre’s requirement.

11) Selected candidate(s) will have to join duty immediately on receipt of the offer letter.

12) No interim enquiries/ correspondence/ communication of any sort will be entertained on the matter.

13) Canvassing in any form and/ or bringing any influence by an applicant, will lead to disqualification of the applicant from the selection process.

14) Jurisdiction: Any dispute arising out of this advertisement and/or applications submitted in response thereto shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts/ Tribunals/ Forums at Pune.

15) Application submitted without any supporting documents/ uploads (or) with unclear scans/ illegible uploads (or) incomplete in any respect will be summarily rejected and no further correspondence will be entertained in this regard. Application incomplete in any respect will be summarily rejected.

Senior Administrative Officer