Data Science Team Lead

As Data Science Team Lead, you will define and guide the team’s scientific vision and research agenda in close collaboration with instrument scientists, astronomers, and astrophysicists at SRON, across the Dutch community, and with international partners. Initial resources are available to establish the core of the team. The team is expected to grow through targeted recruitment and will provide a stimulating environment for researchers developing and applying advanced data-science methods and scientific algorithms. Additional project-based positions will be hosted within the Science Accelerator Hub, fostering dynamic collaboration across disciplines and research areas.

Your main role is to lead the team in conducting research bridging data science and astrophysics in the context of the SRON mission portfolio and scientific strategy. Specifically, your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and growing the Data Science Team
• Facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations related to data science across SRON’s astronomy, technology and engineering programmes
• Guiding the set up of the Science Accelerator Hub and managing its staff and resources
• Conducting scientific research
• Developing data science tools, models, and pipelines in collaboration with the existing science teams at SRON, in the Netherlands, and with international partners
• Identifying and pursuing funding opportunities to expand the team
• Managing personnel and supervising their career development
• Serving on the Astrophysics Management Team (Astro MT)

We are looking for a person with leadership or leadership potential and a PhD in astrophysics, astronomy, data science, or a related field. Experience in applying advanced data science methods to concrete scientific problems is required, ideally in the context of astronomical or other complex observational data. Experience and/or demonstrated potential in growing scientific collaborations, particularly in promoting inclusion of diverse team members, is required, as is experience with or potential for coordinating and writing grant applications. Good English language skills (speaking and writing) and the ability to work both in a diverse team and independently are necessary for this position.

The position we offer at SRON is full-time (negotiable), permanent or permanent-track in which you will be employed by NWO-I, The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research Institutes. The salary will be in accordance with NWO salary scales, commensurate with your education and experience, ranging from scale 12 – 14,  for € 6500,– till €8500,- gross per month on a full-time basis.

NWO has excellent secondary employment conditions such as:

• An end-of-year bonus of 8,33% of the gross yearly salary
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross yearly salary
• 42 days of vacation leave a year on a full-time basis
• An excellent pension scheme
• Options for (additional) personal development
• Excellent facilities for parental leave
• Ample training opportunities
• Possibility of flexible working hours and hybrid working

SRON’s mission is to achieve breakthroughs in international scientific research from space. To this end, SRON develops groundbreaking technology and advanced space instruments. SRON promotes societal applications for space technology. We have a strong international reputation for ‘excellence in space research’. The quality and societal relevance of our science is considered ‘world-leading’.

SRON is the Space Research Organisation Netherlands. Based at locations in Leiden and Groningen, SRON combines fundamental scientific research, technology innovation, and instrumentation development to enable breakthroughs in astrophysics, exoplanet research, and earth atmospheric research from space. In partnership with leading international partners and space agencies such as ESA, NASA and JAXA, SRON provides scientific and technological contributions to international space missions as well as expertise and support to the Dutch and international scientific communities.

SRON is the national base for the Netherlands participation in the ESA science program. On the national level, it works in close collaboration with the Dutch universities, other NWO institutes, and governmental agencies to pursue a cohesive agenda for space-based research.

At SRON we believe that an inclusive workforce diverse in gender, age, and cultural background is key to performing excellent research. We therefore strongly encourage qualified applicants of all ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, minoritized people, people with disabilities, and potential dual-academic-career hires to apply.

Online and in-person interviews may be part of the selection procedure.

Recruitment consultants, please put down the phone. We’ll do the recruitment ourselves so unsolicited acquisition to this vacancy is not appreciated.