Announcement of Opportunity for photometry scientist in the GAIA science team

Announcement of Opportunity for photometry scientist in the GAIA science team

The Director of Science and Robotic Exploration has released an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for membership in the science team of the Gaia mission. The invitation to respond to this AO is presented here, followed by the AO schedule. The AO document and the Science Management Plan can be accessed from the right-hand menu. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 30 April 2013.

Subject: Release of Announcement of Opportunity for membership in the Gaia Science Team

Dear Colleague,

I am pleased to announce the release, today, of the Announcement of Opportunity for membership in the Gaia Science Team (GST). The Gaia mission, a global astrometric survey mission, is an element of ESA's Scientific Programme, which is foreseen to be launched in September 2013.

Proposals are solicited for individual membership in the GST, whose mandate is to advise the Agency on all scientific matters regarding the Gaia mission as described in the Science Management Plan. The appointment of one of the photometry scientists in the GST as the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) chair has led to a vacant position in the team. As a result to the present Announcement of Opportunity one new photometry scientist will be selected, for a renewable period of three years.

The successful applicant is expected to have a keen interest and proven track record in at least one of the scientific fields to which Gaia will make a significant contribution. In order to complement the science coverage of the current GST, expertise in the area of our Solar System is a strong asset. Applicants for the position of the photometry scientist are expected to have a good understanding of the aspects of all Gaia instruments and specifically of the spectrophotometer.

Membership in the GST is on an individual basis; all scientists from institutions located in ESA Member States are eligible to apply. The GST with the new appointment as a result to the present Announcement of Opportunity is anticipated to first meet in July 2013. As described in the Announcement of Opportunity, the Gaia Science Team will be selected ensuring that they are to a reasonable degree independent from the management activities of DPAC.

With the present letter I therefore invite interested members of the scientific community to respond to the Announcement of Opportunity, available on line at http://sci.esa.int/GaiaGSTPhotAO. Responses to the Announcement of Opportunity are due by 30 April 2013 following the procedure described in detail at http://sci.esa.int/GaiaGSTPhotAO.

Yours sincerely,

Alvaro Giménez-Cañete

Director of Science and Robotic Exploration