ESO/Y. Belestky  

INCT History

The INCT was created by Exempt Decree N°42 on June 27, 2017, to answer to the goals established by the UDA´s institutional Strategic Development Plan and their expected growth on future relevant subjects for the region and country. INCT wants to capitalize the enormous advantages of the Atacama Region as a natural unique laboratory in the world, similar in many ways to the surface of various solid bodies of the Solar System (e.g. the Moon or Mars), with clear skies free of artificial light pollution, that favors the study and development of all areas inAstrophysics and Planetary Sciences. On top of this, we have access to the 10% of observing time granted to the astronomical Chilean community in all the professional observatories located in our country. The INCT wants to take advantage of the unique features of the Atacama Region to build a platform for simulation and experimentation, creating new knowledge, forming new professionals, being a testing site for the aerospace industry and in general being a place for all kinds of studies in Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences.

Directors  

• May 2023 – Present: Dr. Lorenzo Morelli
• May 2021 – May 2023: Dr. Mario Soto
• May 2019 – May 2021: Dr. Giovanni Leone
• June 2017 – December 2018 : Dr. Mauro Barbieri

Job posts

Three (3) Assistant Professors at INCT:

The Instituto de Astronomía y Ciencias Planetarias (INCT) at Universidad de Atacama (UDA) in Copiapó, Chile, invites applications for three (3) assistant professor positions from enthusiastic candidates who are currently working within Planetary Science in the fields of Exoplanets, Protoplanetary Disks, Solar System or Planetary Geology. Successful candidates are expected to be able to teach effectively at postgraduate level in English (in Spanish after a year) and supervise PhD theses. Applicants should have a PhD in Astronomy, Planetary Science, or closely related areas and a minimum of 10 publications (in Q1 or Q2 in WOS related Astronomy & Astrophysics JCR category) between the years 2016-2020. Successful applicants will have access to the 10% of time guaranteed to Chilean institutions on all international observatories based in the country (ESO/Paranal, ALMA, APEX, CTA-South, Las Campanas, ESO/La Silla, LSST, CTIO, Gemini, etc.) and participation in SDSS-V.

The INCT offers a competitive salary plus incentives for productivity. Complete applications must include in a single PDF file: a CV with a list of publications, cover letter (1 page), a research statement (including future research plans; max 3 pages), a teaching experience description (max 1 page) and the names and contact details of three references aware of the candidate work experience. All documents should be sent by e-mail to inct@uda.cl by deadline 10th of June 2022. Position will stay open until filled. Inquiries should be addressed to Director professor Mario Soto at mario.soto@uda.cl .

Postdoctoral FONDECYT positions at INCT (3 years):

The Instituto de Astronomía y Ciencias Planetarias (INCT) at Universidad de Atacama (UDA) in Copiapó, Chile, welcomes applications for sponsoring a three year FONDECYT postdoctoral research fellowship in astronomy. After an initial evaluation, selected applicants will be sponsored by an INCT faculty member for the FONDECYT application. Projects in the following research lines will receive full consideration:

• Exoplanets and Planetary Science
• Stellar Astronomy and Milky Way
• Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology 

For more details on specific research topics, please refer to the INCT website.

Successful applicants will have access to the 10% of time guaranteed to Chilean institutions on all international observatories based in the country (ESO/Paranal, ALMA, APEX, CTA-South, Las Campanas, ESO/La Silla, LSST, CTIO, Gemini, etc.) and participation in SDSS-V.

The INCT is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment, which currently hosts 11 faculty members, 3 postdocs, and 12 Ph.D. graduate students. The INCT provides a stimulating, international environment where Spanish and English coexist as common languages. The University of Atacama is located in Copiapó, the capital city of the Atacama region. Copiapó is located in the Atacama desert, and the region offers a unique variety of natural and wildlife attractions. 

The expected beginning of the FONDECYT fellowships is April 15, 2022. To be eligible for a FONDECYT postdoctoral research fellowship, applicants must have obtained their Ph.D. between January 2018 and 26 August 2021. However, this period is extended backward by one year per child, for women who had children after January 2018. 

The Postdoctoral FONDECYT Postdoctoral fellowship Competition offers a competitive salary and additional funds for travel, publications, equipment, and health insurance expenses. Complete applications to INCT must include in a single PDF file: a C.V. with a list of publications, research statement (max 2 pages), a research proposal (max 2 pages, and based in one of the three research lines), and the name and contact details of one reference aware of the candidate’s work experience. All documents should be sent by e-mail to inct@uda.cl by the deadline August 10 2021. Similar postdoctoral positions will be offered as public research funds become available. Inquiries should be addressed to the INCT at inct@uda.cl.