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Watt's Up College of Optical Sciences News for October 25, 2007
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Highlights from OSC's Large Binocular Telescope Trip Last Weekend
Thank you, OSA/SPIE Student Optics Chapter, for organizing this wonderful tour and camping trip And thank you photographers for the wonderful pictures.
You are Invited to Our Fall Picnic
Saturday, October 27 Ft. Lowell Park, Ramada #6
The park is at 2900 North Craycroft Road, at the corner of Craycroft and Glenn. The ramada is by the duck pond. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, books, kites, frisbees, chess sets, croquet sets, cameras, sketch pads ... and of course, your family and friends. Also, bring your softball bats and gloves because the game starts at 2:00. Tucson's own Casa Molina Restaurant, home of some of the world's best Mexican food, is catering the event. Dinner will be served from 4:30 to 5:30. See you there!
Happy Birthday and Best Wishes for a Wonderful Year
OSC Calendar
On Campus
UA Library News From Maliaca Oxnam, UA Optics Librarian and former OSC Librarian.
IEEE Xplore Training at UA Library - Tips for Effective Searching
Faculty, students and other IEEE Xplore users are invited to attend a training session on November 2nd (10-11am or 12-1pm) to learn time-saving search techniques for finding technology content using IEEE Xplore, the online delivery platform for IEEE periodicals, conference proceedings and Standards.
During this live training presentation, presented by IEEE Client Services Manager George Plosker, participants will learn how to do subject searching, broaden and narrow searches, and get relevant search results to increase productivity.
To attend, please RSVP at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dCIagN6xFoqeXhngVKJpvw_3d_3d. Training is being arranged by the UA Library. For more information, please contact Optics Librarian Maliaca Oxnam at oxnamm@u.library.arizona.edu or 621-6386.
Free Lunch for Undergrads
The University Library is offering undergraduates a free lunch and a chance to tell us your honest opinion about the Library. Please give us an hour and half of your time. In exchange, we’ll give you lunch and a chance to talk about the library and share your ideas and concerns with library staff.
We are having three focus groups for undergraduates: Thursday, November 1, 12:00-1:30 in the Student Union Picacho Room Wednesday, November 7, 12:00-1:30 in the Student Union Madera Room Friday, November 9, 12:00-1:30 in the Student Union Picacho Room
Can you make any of these dates? If yes, please RSVP to Susan Nares at naress@u.library.arizona.edu or 621-4683.
Technical Computing with MATLAB and Simulink: Training Sessions Offered
Several complimentary training sessions have been arranged (10/29-10/31) by the UA Library to provide students, faculty, and researchers with an introduction to using MATLAB for homework, coursework, and research. You are encouraged to participate in multiple sessions ranging from introductory overviews to advanced topics. All sessions will be conducted by application engineers and developers from Mathworks. To register for the training sessions visit - http://www.mathworks.com/seminars/uoaoct07.
Introduction to MATLAB: Topics include: Data Analysis, Visualization, and Sharing Results with MATLAB; Algorithm Development, GUI Building, and Application Deployment with MATLAB
Introduction to Simulink: Summary: An introduction to the Simulink interactive graphical environment and customizable set of block libraries
Introduction to Distributed Computing with MATLAB: Summary: This introduction to Distributed Computing Toolbox demonstrates how you can solve computationally and data-intensive problems using MATLAB and Simulink in a multiprocessor computing environment.
Advanced MATLAB Programming: Summary: This master class will illustrate the usage and explain the benefits of many of the different function types available in MATLAB 7. You will learn how using the right function type can lead to more robust and maintainable code. Demonstrations will show how to apply these techniques to solve optimization problems and make it easier to program GUIs in MATLAB. This session will also provide you with an understanding of how different MATLAB data types are stored in memory.
Acquiring and Analyzing Data with MATLAB
Topics include: Analyzing, exploring, and visualizing data with MATLAB; Characterizing and modeling a filter circuit (signal processing); Communicating with data acquisition devices, instruments, and cameras; Publishing reports in MATLAB
To get the most from these sessions, participants are recommended to view the MATLAB Tutorial as a prerequisite: http://www.mathworks.com/academia/student_center/tutorials/launchpad.html
Optics Employment
Please check out additional
opportunities at
Control Engineer. ESO. For the Technology Division at its Headquarters in Garching near Munich, Germany, ESO is opening the position of Control Engineer. Purpose and Scope of the Position: ESO is looking for a suitably qualified Control Engineer to work in the Systems and Analysis Department of the Technology Division at ESO’s Headquarters in Garching. The Technology Division comprises about 50 physicists, engineers and technicians, who work closely with other Divisions at ESO as well as many national and international Institutes and industrial concerned to define and develop state-of-the-art research facilities for ESO’s observatories in Chile. These include very large telescopes and advanced science instruments. Duties and Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be working closely with various ESO project teams, but in particular on the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) project. His/her responsibilities will include: • Providing support to the E-ELT and other ESO projects for the specification, design and analysis of control systems, • Follow-up of external projects and participating in technical reviews, • Performing control design and simulation of the EELT main axes and segmented primary mirror (about 1000 segments), • Assisting in the development of the integrated modelling of the E-ELT including the individual control loops, the overall control architecture and algorithms, • Investigating, designing and simulating suitable controller concepts for the E-ELT control systems Professional Requirements / Qualifications: applicants should meet the following requirements: • Have a university degree in control engineering, electronic engineering, computer science or physics. The ideal candidate has at least 5 years working experience in the development of high-accuracy servo-controlled mechanical systems. Experience with telescope or telescope instruments control systems would be an advantage. • Have a very good theoretical knowledge of complex control systems, including control loop design, analysis and implementation for digital servo systems, and optimal filtering of stochastic signals. • Have a sound engineering background in different fields like structural mechanics, optics and electronics. • Have excellent motivational and communication skills. A strong sense of team spirit is essential. • Be able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment. • Have an excellent knowledge of standard numerical simulation tools for complex control systems such as Matlab / Simulink (Control System Tool box). • Have a good command of spoken and written English. • Previous experience with telescope control systems would be an advantage. Duty Station: The position will be based in Garching near Munich, Germany, but may on occasions require spending periods of up to several weeks at ESO’s Observatory sites. Starting Date: As soon as possible. Remuneration and Contract: We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary (tax free), comprehensive pension scheme and medical, educational and other social benefits as well as financial help in relocating your family and the possibility to place your child(ren) in the Kinderkrippe. The initial contract is for a period of three years with the possibility of a fixed-term or indefinite extension. The title or grade may be subject to change according to qualification and the number of years of experience. Application: If you are interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international Control Engineer (Career Path V) environment, please visit http://www.eso.org for further details and to apply on-line. Applications must be completed in English. Closing date for applications is 20 November 2007. Although recruitment preference will be given to nationals of ESO Member States (members are: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and United Kingdom) no nationality is in principle excluded. The post is equally open to suitably qualified male and female applicants.
Postdoctoral Fellowship in in Applied Development of Active Imaging Systems. Sandia National Laboratory. Proposed Research Project:: The integration of active optical elements can potentially reduce the size, weight, and requirements of conventional imaging systems. At the same time, active imaging systems provide increased flexibility and capability compared to their conventional counterparts. Historically, active elements such as deformable mirrors (DMs) have been used to atmospheric turbulence for astronomical imaging and liquid crystal (LC) spatial light SLMs) have been used to correct intracavity aberrations in high-power laser systems. As active optical devices improve in dynamic range, resolution, and aperture size, applications for these devices grows tremendously. Active imaging systems have already proposed for satellites, UAVs, unattended ground sensors, and even cell phone cameras. Technical Objectives: Novel integration of actively controlled, large aperture composite mirrors for light weight telescopes. Design active control of active elements. Metrology of large aperture composite mirrors. Goals: This topic will investigate the science leading to novel ways to construct active image that are more stable, mechanically robust, and provide new imaging capabilities. It is possible that the Post Doc will work in Tucson Arizona, or they may work here at Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque (that will be determined based on the individual candidates interests). They will have an advisor from the IC community. If you know of any US citizens who have recently graduated or will be graduating in Dec, and they would be interested in working as a PostDoc at Sandia (good pay/great benefits), please have them contact me directly. Also, please feel free to forward this to others that may be interested. Please contact: David V. Wick, Ph.D. Principal Member of Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories , PO Box 5800, MS 1188, Albuquerque, NM 87185-1188. (505) 844-2517. dvwick@sandia.gov
Postdoctoral Fellowships in Optical Aeronomy and Instrument Design. SRI International. The Molecular Physics Laboratory at SRI International is currently seeking one or more post-doctoral fellows to assist in the design, construction, and fielding of a large echelle spectrograph - CESAR (Compact Echelle Spectrograph for Aeronomic Research) - to be used for nightglow and twilight glow studies at various sites. Large astronomical telescopes are equipped with such spectrographs. As a by-product of regular astronomical observations, they record sky spectra, which are high-resolution spectra of the night sky, covering the 310-1040 nm wavelength range. The National Science Foundation is funding SRI to build a portable instrument with similar spectroscopic capabilities, to be used at various aeronomically interesting locations – the tropics, mid-latitudes, and the auroral regions – and to be operated remotely. The project supervisor is Tom G. Slanger, Ph.D. (www.sri.com/psd/physics/staff/slanger). A preliminary design for CESAR exists, and we are searching for applicants who have experience in electro-mechanical and optical design, with hands-on experience in constructing a complex computer-controlled optical system. Experience in software development is desired for at least one of the applicants. We anticipate that the one-year position will be renewed for one or more additional years. After successful completion of this effort, the Molecular Physics Laboratory anticipates a staff position will open for operation and management of this instrument. SRI International is one of the world's premier independent research and development organizations that conducts client-supported research and development for government agencies, commercial businesses and nonprofit foundations. SRI's Molecular Physics Laboratory provides government clients with fundamental and applied research in areas involving laser sensors and diagnostics, mass spectroscopy, atmospheric processes and chemistry, and biomedical applications. SRI’s Postdoctoral Fellowship positions are eligible for regular benefits, and relocation assistance is also provided. Interested applicants must apply directly online for Job #3634 at www.sri.com/jobs EEO.
Video Controller for Distance Education. UA Optical Sciences. This would be a great opportunity to preview graduate courses you may be taking in the future. No experience necessary, training will be provided. The following times are needed:
If you are interested and any of the above times will work with your schedule, please Contact Cindy Robertson at 626-4719 or cindyr@optics.arizona.edu |
