With the German Center for Astrophysics (DZA), a new research center is being established in Lusatia with funds from the Coal Regions Structural Strengthening Act (StStG). The aim is to strengthen regions in Saxony affected by the lignite phase-out. In Lusatia, the DZA will create new opportunities for strategic leadership roles in German astrophysics as a globally visible symbol of innovation with science and research. In this way, we also want to have a lasting impact on the transformation of Lusatia.
The construction phase of the DZA is being jointly organized by the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY and the TUD Dresden University of Technology. In 2025, the start-up phase for the DZA will end and the DZA will be founded as an independent institution.
This is a unique opportunity to participate in the establishment of a major research center in Lusatia and to help shape its future structures and those of the region.
For TUD and DZA diversity is an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent university. Accordingly, we welcome all applicants who would like to commit themselves, their achievements and their productivity to the success of the whole institution.
The DZA offers, as part of the development, one position located in Görlitz as
Head of Astronomical Data Center (m/f/x)
(subject to personal qualification, employees are remunerated according to salary group E 15 TV-L)
starting as soon as possible. The position is initially limited until December 31, 2025 2025 (time limitation pursuant to TzBfG) with the option of extension/permanence at the DZA after its foundation. Following the institutional establishment, it is planned to transfer the employment contracts to the “Tarifvertrag Bund” of the public sector (TVöD Bund). Balancing family and career is an important issue. The position is generally suitable for candidates seeking part-time employment. Please indicate the request in your application.
Establishment and management of a modern astronomical data center at the DZA. Data from all over the world from cooperation projects SKA, MeerKAT, DSA-2000, Gaia or ZTF will be made accessible to the astronomical community and the public via suitable portals and interfaces and thus become part of the national research data infrastructure NFDI. At the DZA, the data systems of large projects are integrated into a standardized data storage and access system. The developments required for this are embedded in international efforts to enable intelligent data services in astrophysics, for example for multi-messenger astrophysics. The resulting technology for archives of heterogeneous data sets, which supports user-defined computing operations for combined data analysis, also has great potential for social applications.
TUD and DZA strive to employ more women in academia and research. We, therefore, expressly encourage women to apply. The University is a certified family-friendly university. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. If multiple candidates prove to be equally qualified, those with disabilities or with equivalent status pursuant to the German Social Code IX (SGB IX) will receive priority for employment.
Please submit your detailed application with the usual documents by September 9, 2025 (stamped arrival date or the time stamp on the email server of TUD applies), preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal https://securemail.tu-dresden.de by sending it as a single pdf file quoting the reference number “w25-134” to dza@tu-dresden.de or to: Deutsches Zentrum für Astrophysik (DZA), Herrn Alexander Welk, Postplatz 1, 02826 Görlitz, Germany. Please submit copies only, as your application will not be returned to you. Expenses incurred in attending interviews cannot be reimbursed.
Reference to data protection: Your data protection rights, the purpose for which your data will be processed, as well as further information about data protection is available to you on the website: https://tu-dresden.de/karriere/datenschutzhinweis.
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