Employment
see also: UT Austin Job Search
A full list of employment opportunities with both the Department of Astronomy and McDonald Observatory can be found at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/hr/jobs/nlogon/search/0/. For openings at the Observatory, enter 'McDonald' as the Hiring Department. Listings will include both Austin and Fort Davis, TX.
Please also see Fellowships.
Director of McDonald Observatory at The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin invites applications and nominations for the Director of McDonald Observatory. The successful candidate for Director will play a pivotal role in furthering the Observatory’s mission of promoting research, education, and outreach in astronomy. We are seeking a congenial, dynamic leader with the demonstrated experience in administration and communication necessary to lead a major research unit, and to interact well with private supporters and with public education leaders in the state. Additionally, he or she must have an earned doctorate and a demonstrated record of accomplishment in astronomical research to warrant appointment as a tenured professor in the Department of Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin. The Director resides in Austin, but is expected to travel frequently to McDonald Observatory where there is a residence for the Director’s use. The Director reports to the Executive Vice President and Provost through the Dean of the College of Natural Sciences.
The selected person will hold dual positions of director with McDonald Observatory and faculty with Department of Astronomy, which will require further documentation and credentials. A tenured faculty rank will be determined according to qualifications.
McDonald Observatory is located 450 miles west of Austin, Texas, near Ft. Davis, Texas in the beautiful Davis Mountains. At present, the major facilities are: the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), the 2.7-m Harlan J. Smith Telescope, the 2.1-m Otto Struve Telescope, the newly refurbished 0.8-m Telescope, and a growing number of smaller remotely-operable and robotic telescopes. The HET is a collaboration including The University of Texas at Austin, Pennsylvania State University, Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, and the Georg-August University in Göettingen. The HET is also a partner in the Southern African Large Telescope. The HET will be reconfigured soon to host the HETDEX galaxy project (http://www.hetdex.org).
McDonald Observatory is equipped with a wide range of state-of-the-art instrumentation for imaging and spectroscopy in the optical and infrared. The University of Texas, through McDonald Observatory is also a member of the Giant Magellan Telescope consortium. In addition to being a first rate research unit, McDonald Observatory has extensive public education outreach programs. These include an 11,000 square foot visitor center that hosts public tours and starparties; the StarDate radio program; StarDate magazine; the Spanish-language Universo website; and K-12 teacher workshops and student field experiences. For an overview of McDonald facilities, scientific activities and achievements, and public outreach programs, please see http://www.as.utexas.edu/mcdonald/mcdonald.html.
Review of applications will begin January 15, 2013, and will continue until the position is filled. Please electronically submit a letter of interest, statement of experience, curriculum vitae, and a list of five references (including their home addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses) at The University of Texas at Austin Job Search site at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/hr/jobs/nlogon/search/0/ and reference Job Posting number 12-11-15-01-0379 in your letter of interest. Please address the letter of interest to Chair, McDonald Observatory Director Search Committee. The job posting provides a full description of the position of Director of McDonald Observatory.
Inquiries only may be sent to: director.search@astro.as.utexas.edu.
The University of Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified women and minorities are encouraged to apply. A background check will be conducted on selected applicants.