Our Friday weekly round-up curates opportunities listed on opportunities.africanews.space that are currently open for applications. The Opportunities portal aggregates job vacancies, internships, scholarships; calls for abstracts, fellowships, contests, exchange programmes, and other opportunities that are available for Africans who are interested in space science and technology. Simply put, it’s an opportunity congregate for space and astronomy-related opportunities for Africans. If you missed any opportunities this week, check out the weekly round-up below:
Call to Orbit: Open Cosmos and European Space Agency Calls For Proposal
The Call to Orbit initiative allows 10 promising projects to be awarded Space Mission tools for free, enabling the development and qualification of new technologies, payloads, and services.
Open Cosmos and European Space Agency are partnering to offer valuable assistance for space applications and technologies to reach orbit. Open Cosmos provides simple and affordable nanosatellite missions to enable access to space. The Call to Orbit initiative can help your idea go from proof-of-concept to in-orbit demonstration and validation readiness supporting the development of space technologies and applications.
Participants will benefit from Open Cosmos’ services for three months then receive support from ESA to get their idea into orbit.
The deadline for application is September 30, 2019.
Click Call to Orbit: Open Cosmos and European Space Agency Calls For Proposal to apply and get more information
IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Calls Proposal For OAD/DARA Big Data Fellowship
The Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD), was established through a partnership between the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). Based at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town, South Africa, the OAD aims to utilize the skills, techniques and broad appeal of astronomy to address development goals. It coordinates 10 regional offices around the world and an annual call for proposals which has thus far allocated grants to 142 projects reaching over 90 countries.
Tasks:
- Development of about 3 hacks per year
- Travel to relevant partner countries in Africa to implement and evaluate hackathons
- Deliver hacks at DARA Big Data workshops/schools
- Work with an evaluation partner to develop evaluation tools for hackathons
- Develop guidelines on implementing hackathons including best practice and potential impact as a development resource
- Ensure that all hacks are made open/accessible via data science toolkit and OAD git repo.
Duration:
The initial funding for this position is for one year, with the possibility of one-year extension depending on performance and funding.
Requirements:
- Masters or PhD in Physics, Astronomy or related field
- Prior experience in Python programming
- Experience in machine learning and(or) data science will be an advantage
- Ability to travel alone internationally, to present hackathons in the AVN (African VLBI Network) countries (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya; Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia)
- Fluent in English (fluency in other languages spoken in Africa will be an advantage)
- Good communication (both written and verbal) and presentation skills
- Highly organised and a quick learner.
Deadline: 31 October 2019.
Click IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Calls Proposal For OAD/DARA Big Data Fellowship to apply and get more information
SANSA Reopens Application for Postgraduate Bursary
Due to a system fault that has been rectified, the South African National Space Agency will reopen application for its Postgraduate Bursary from 23-29 September 2019. Kindly resubmit your applications if you experienced any problems.
Click SANSA Reopens Application for Postgraduate Bursary to apply and get more information.
NewSpace Systems calls For Application For The Position of an Assembly Technician
NewSpace Systems, a Satellite Component Manufacturing company in Somerset West, has a permanent position for an Assembly Technician to support the manufacture of electronic equipment for use in satellite-based systems.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications:
- Post-secondary training in electronic engineering technology experience
- At least five years experience on assembling complex and high-reliability electro-mechanical equipment (preferably to IPC-3 level).
Prerequisites:
- Appreciation of ISO9001 requirements
- Familiarity with working in a highly controlled assembly environment such as military or medical equipment
- Ability to work to tight schedules while maintaining high-quality manufacture
- Good written and oral communications skills
- Ability to work with small components and assemblies extensively using a microscope daily
- Ability to interpret mechanical and electronic drawings
- Be self-motivated and have a willingness to learn
- Good attention to detail
- Ability to manage time and work to deadlines
- The post holder will be required to interact frequently and effectively with other Company team members.
- Liaising with senior management and project engineers
- Planning and sequencing of workflow through the different manufacturing processes
- Hand soldering of through-hole and surface mount components
- Assembly of complex harnessing
- Assisting in any aspect of the build and test of space equipment.
Apply For The 2019 IAU PhD Prize To Recognise Excellence in Astrophysics
The International Astronomical Union PhD Prize recognises outstanding scientific achievement in astrophysics around the world. Once a year, each IAU Division awards its prize to the candidate with the most remarkable work in the previous year.
Qualification:
Candidate must have a PhD Thesis defended between the 16 December in the previous year, and 15 December this year.
Benefits:
The recipient of this award will receive a range of prizes, tailored by each Division at their discretion. A standard prize includes airfare and accommodation to attend the next IAU General Assembly to be awarded a certificate. Other rewards might include an opportunity to present thesis work at Division Days, an invitation to attend presentations at the IAU Executive Committee meeting and dinner at the General Assembly, as well as the possibility to present a talk at either a plenary or special session.
Requirement:
Candidates are required to submit: an abstract of their thesis that is suitable for public consumption; a 1500-word thesis summary; three letters of recommendation (including one from the PhD advisor); and a CV. The winner of each Division will be decided by the Division’s standards and methods, guided by the Division Steering Committee and possibly with corroborating external consultation or additional letters of recommendation.
The deadline for all applications is 15 December
Click Apply For The 2019 IAU PhD Prize To Recognise Excellence in Astrophysics to apply and get more information
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