Postdoctoral Fellowship on Precision Spectroscopy

Pre-applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellowship at the Astronomy Department 
of the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil, to join the group of Prof. Jorge 
Melendez (http://www.astro.iag.usp.br/~jorge/members.htm) to develop research related 
to high precision chemical abundances. USP is ranked as the best university in South 
America, and its Astronomy Department has 32 permanent staff, about 25 postdocs and 
about 60 graduate students. 

The candidate will use stellar spectra of superb quality to obtain highly precise 
chemical abundances (0.01 dex). Some relevant topics are the planet - star connection, 
planet searches, star clusters, stellar ages, rotation, activity, stellar evolution, 
isotopic ratios, chemical evolution of the Galaxy, surveys of metal-poor stars and the 
cosmological lithium problem. The fellow is encouraged to pursue an independent research 
program for up to half of his/her time, and is welcome to apply for observing time at 
different facilities for which Brazil currently has access (ESO/Gemini/SOAR).

The successful applicant will be sponsored for an application to the Sao Paulo funding 
agency FAPESP. If approved, the position will be funded for two years with the 
possibility of extension for a third year contingent on performance. The starting date 
is negotiable (2016/12 - 2017/09). Monthly salary (tax free) is R$6819 (about US$2064). 
The postdoc will have its own research/travel budget of R$12274 per year. 
Airfare + R$6819 (to help with relocation) will be paid for fellows from abroad.

Candidates must have a PhD granted between 2011/7 and 2017/8 and should have published 
(or submitted) at least 2 papers. Previous experience on stellar abundances is required. 
Send a cover letter indicating your preferred starting date, curriculum vitae, summary 
of research achievements, and research plan by September 2, 2016. Applicants attending 
the workshop Precision Spectroscopy 2016 (http://www.astro.iag.usp.br/~jorge/ps/) can 
visit USP before or after the workshop. Send applications by e-mail to Dr. Jorge Melendez 
(jorge.melendez@iag.usp.br). Two letters of recommendation must be emailed directly by 
the writers to the above address.