Staff Scientist

California Institute of Technology; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Caltech IPAC invites applications for a full-time scientist to monitor data quality across ingestion flows and performance of database analyses to ensure internal consistency. You will explore extragalactic archive science enabled by NED and contribute to higher data ingestion rates and reliability.

As a NED Staff Scientist, you will validate automated cross-matching results, develop scalable validation tools, and work with scientists and engineers to accelerate data fusion.

Qualifications

• PhD in astronomy, physics, computer science or related field.
• Two years of post-PhD astronomy experience.
• Knowledge of astrometry, photometry, and galaxy classifications.

Responsibilities

• Apply NED’s methods for locating, extracting, transforming, and integrating data.
• Perform science-based validation and vet automated cross-matching results.
• Develop new tools (e.g., AI-powered) for data quality validation at scale.
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to improve data fusion into NED.
• Respond to user queries related to the scientific content of NED.
• Design and validate NED services and interfaces for science use cases.
• Conduct archival and data synthesis research.

Skills

Post-PhD experience in astronomy

Coordinate systems knowledge

Data validation experience

Programming experience

Education

PhD in astronomy, physics, computer science or related field

Tools

Python

SQL/Databases

AI/ML tooling

Job description

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Job Summary

IPAC ( https://www.ipac.caltech.edu/ ), part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech ( www.caltech.edu ), provides science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to enhance discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. IPAC invites applications from highly qualified individuals for a full-time scientist position to work with the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED; http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu ).

NED’s mission is to accelerate astrophysical discovery within NASA’s strategic plan by capturing the most reliable census of extragalactic objects, where fundamental object attributes and multi-wavelength data from the published literature and catalogs are joined. NED currently provides data for more than 1.1 billion objects, accessible to researchers and the public worldwide through user-friendly interfaces and programmatic query tools. NED also offers a Gravitational Wave Followup ( GWF ) service to facilitate searches for electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events. This service is based on a curated Local Volume Sample of galaxies ( Cook et al 2023 ).

This is an immediate opening for a scientist who is excited by the prospect of monitoring data quality across our ingestion flows and services, performing database analysis to ensure internal consistency, and exploring new extragalactic archive science enabled by NED. The primary responsibility of this position is to contribute to the NED mission by enhancing the accuracy and rate of data ingestion, particularly in view of the rapidly growing volume of data in the astrophysics literature.

As a NED Staff Scientist, you will:

• Apply NED’s current methods for locating, extracting, transforming, and integrating data into the system.
• Perform science-based validation of NED data, including vetting the results of automated cross-matching software.
• Develop new tools (e.g., powered by AI) for validating data quality on larger scales from heterogeneous data sources
• Work with scientists and engineers on the team to develop and apply new tools to accelerate the flow and fusion of data into NED.
• Respond to user support requests related to the scientific content of NED.
• Help design and validate NED services and interfaces to enable science use cases for NED data.
• Conduct research, including archival research exploiting NED’s content and data synthesis.

Basic Qualifications

If you have the following in your background, then we want to hear about your interest in joining our team:

• PhD in astronomy, physics, computer science or a related field.
• Two years of post-PhD experience in astronomy.
• Knowledge of astronomical coordinate systems, nomenclature, astrometry, photometry, galaxy classifications, and observational techniques.
• Demonstrated experience in at least one stage of the production, validation, or analysis of astronomical data sets.
• Experience in computer programming.

Preferred Qualifications

These are a set of skills and experiences which will add to your ability to contribute to the roles and responsibilities of the position. The following attributes would make you a better fit for this position, but even if these do not describe you or your experience, we would still like to hear from you:

• Two years or more of experience in computer programming as a research astronomer or data scientist.
• Peer-reviewed publications in areas of extragalactic astronomy that are synergistic with the functional work on NED.
• Experience with Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence.
• Proficiency in Python.
• Experience manipulating large, diverse and complex data sets.
• Experience with large databases.

Required Documents

• Full resume or CV.
• Names and contact information for 3 professional references.
• This is an on-site position at the Caltech campus in Pasadena, California. Remote workdays are typically allowed 1-2 days per week after training.

IPAC is located on the campus of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering research and education institution, as well as a thriving community of curious and passionate individuals who collaborate to understand and solve complex scientific and societal challenges. Caltech also operates large-scale research facilities such as the Palomar Observatory, Keck Observatory, and LIGO, which in 2016 observed gravitational waves from colliding black holes for the first time.

Hiring Range

$78,000 - $120,000 Per Year
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks .

EEO Statement

Caltech is an equal opportunity employer and, as a federal contractor, takes affirmative action to employ qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Disability Accommodations

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.