University of West Georgia Hiring for Student Assistant -Observational Astronomy (NSF) Research Assistant at UWG Recruiting Location Full Time

Job Title: Student Assistant -Observational Astronomy (NSF) Research Assistant
Location: UWG Recruiting Location
Regular/Temporary: Temporary
Full/Part Time: Part-Time
Job ID: 266506
About Us

Since 1906, UWG has been home to those who are eager to learn,
grow, and advance. Now, nearly 13,000 students from across Georgia, 31 states
and 62 countries call UWG home. With 95+ undergraduate programs and
concentrations, and 35 master’s, specialist, and doctoral degree programs, our
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industries. Today, we’re a regional powerhouse, making an economic impact of
more than $633 million in the region and state.

With our main campus in Carrollton (GA) and presence in
Douglasville (GA), Newnan (GA), and online, we take pride in working every day
to curate a first-choice university by making a difference in the lives of our
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The academic enterprise of the university is organized into our College
of Art, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry; College of Education; Richards College of
Business; University College; School of Communication, Film, and Media; Tanner Health System
School of Nursing; Honors College; Graduate School; UWG Newnan; and our UWG Douglasville Center.

Job Summary

Applications are welcome for a research position in observational astronomy, with Dr. Nick Sterling in the Physics Program. Funding for this position is provided by the National Science Foundation grant ¿Collaborative Research: Empirical Constraints on the s- and r-processes from Precision Nebular Abundances.¿

The successful applicant will analyze optical and/or near-infrared spectra of planetary nebulae obtained with the 6.5-meter Magellan-Baade Telescope (Chile), the 8.1-meter Gemini South Telescope (Chile), the 10-meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope (TX), and/or the 3.0-meter NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (HI). The student will also have the opportunity to participate in remote observations with the Magellan and IRTF telescopes, from the UWG campus.

Training and mentoring will be provided by Dr. Sterling. Previous research experience is not required, provided that the applicant has earned an A in at least one of the following courses ASTR 2313, PHYS 2211, and/or PHYS 2212.

Depending on progress in this project, funding will be available for the student to present results at a regional or national conference in 2024.

After completing the application, interested students should contact Dr. Sterling at [email protected] to arrange an informal interview.

Required Qualifications

• Applicant must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours or a physics major currently enrolled at the University of West Georgia.
• Grade of A in one of the following classes: ASTR 2313, PHYS 2211, or PHYS 2212
• Minimum GPA of 3.5

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference will be given to physics majors in the astronomy concentration.

Physical Requirements or Working Conditions

• Work will be completed at workstations in the physics/astronomy research room, TLC 2138.
• Because IDL is licensed software, the research cannot be done off-campus or virtually.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

The successful applicant will utilize custom software written in the IDL and Python programming languages on computers with Linux operating systems. Dr. Sterling will train the student in using all of the required software as well as the background science motivating the project. Therefore previous experience with programming in the above languages is not required.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of West Georgia, as determined by the University of West Georgia in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug test. Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal and state laws, to the statutes, rules and regulations of this institution and to the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which are available for your inspection upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of West Georgia is an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity, and affirmative action institution. It is the policy of the University of West Georgia to recruit, hire, train, promote and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability,
gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status as required by applicable state and
federal laws (including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Sections 503, and 504, ADEA, ADA, E.O. 11246,
and Rev. Proc. 75-50