Connectionists: Data Analysis Techniques Research Fellow, University of Birmingham UK (Ref 58743, closing date 6 April)

[Bill Chaplin]

Data Analysis Techniques Research Fellow  (Ref 58743)
University of Birmingham, UK
Closing Date: 6 April

Applications are invited to join the Solar and Stellar Physics Group at 
the University of Birmingham as part of its ongoing expansion and 
development.  Members of the group have responsibilities in the European 
Space Agency (ESA) PLATO 2.0 Mission on characterizing exoplanet host 
stars using asteroseismology (stellar oscillations). In order to solve 
the challenges associated with the high-volume, high-bandwidth data that 
will come from the PLATO spacecraft, the group are developing novel data 
techniques based around the automated analysis of timeseries data, 
including the use of advanced machine learning methods.  The successful 
applicant will work primarily with Professor Bill Chaplin and Dr Guy 
Davies as part of the Birmingham PLATO team, to prepare for PLATO and 
also to test and apply the new techniques to existing datasets, e.g. 
from the NASA Kepler, K2 and TESS missions.

We welcome applications from a wide base, including those with 
experience in data mining and algorithm development who may not 
necessarily have astronomy research experience, but who are interested 
in applying their expertise to problems in astronomy.

You will be:
•    Developing and implementing custom algorithms across a range of 
problems
•    Building high-performance machine learning models
•    Developing statistical models using probabilistic programming methods
•    Researching and exploring data sets and carrying out proof of 
concept work
•    Working with other group members and external collaborators to 
deliver exciting new science results

You will have:
•    A PhD in Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, or Computer Science
•    Experience in at least one of: statistical modelling; machine 
learning; data mining
•    Experience of programming in languages such as R/Python/Julia
•    An understanding of astronomical time series analysis and 
astrophysics in general would be useful

This post is available from 1 May 2018 for a period of up to 30 months.
For informal inquiries, please contact Professor Bill Chaplin 
(w.j.chaplin at bham.ac.uk) or Dr Guy Davies (G.R.Davies at bham.ac.uk)

To apply, search for post 58743 at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/jobs/

-- 
Prof. William Chaplin

Professor of Astrophysics
School of Physics and Astronomy
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT
England UK

E-mail:w.j.chaplin at bham.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 4599
Fax: +44 (0) 121 414 4601

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