Context

The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) seeks person for insertion in the context of the project ET-PP.
EGO is a French-Italian consortium, founded by INFN and CNRS to foster European collaboration in gravitational-wave research. EGO is located in Cascina, near Pisa – Italy, and hosts and operates the gravitational-wave detector, Virgo, a 3 km-long laser interferometer. The Virgo project involves the participation of about 130 institutions with nearly 700 scientists, engineers and technicians from France, Italy, the Netherlands and other 13 European countries.

EGO welcomes applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

ET-PP (Preparatory Phase for the Einstein Telescope Gravitational Wave Observatory) is an EU funded project in the context of the Horizon Europe Program. The chief objective of ET-PP is to address a number of fundamental prerequisites for the approval, construction and operation of the Einstein Telescope (ET), including its environmental impacts. In this framework EGO is the lead partner for the Sustainable Development Strategy, aimed at studying and minimizing the carbon footprint of ET, including computing and travel; evaluating and minimizing the landscape and environmental impact; evaluating the contributions of the infrastructure to the UN sustainable goals.

 

Assignment

The successful candidate would have to:

  1. accurate evaluation of the EGO/Virgo carbon footprint (CO2e) as a preparation for this of the Einstein Telescope (ET) during both its construction and initial operation stages. All power consumptions of the infrastructure will be considered (instruments, service plants, computing facilities) as well as those linked to the transportations (commuting, supplies, travels).
  2. Enforce a responsible energy consumption policy by increasing the efficiency of all devices; reducing the EGO/Virgo/ET global need for energy thanks to an optimized design of the most energy-consuming areas; recovering as much emitted energy as possible (e.g. heat from cooling systems) to reuse it.
  3. Ensure a responsible production for the consumed energy, whether it be produced on site (e.g., by arrays of solar panels) or provided by external suppliers.
  4. Secondarily and in coordination with corresponding engineers from INFN/Rome and Austria the impact of different scenarios of ET construction for the design of the underground structures (tunnels, shafts and caverns) to minimize interference with external surface infrastructure networks, urban and natural areas; the development of layout concepts for the foreseen surface infrastructures (i.e. NZEB buildings) taking into account technical requirements, environmental constraints and connection with existing infrastructure and service plants; the optimization of the surface transportation network and design an underground transportation system for personnel and materials, by identifying the paths, the types of users, the vehicles needed, and also by considering the highest safety standards; the planning and management issues related to the definition of critical areas (safety and environmental) and to the necessary investigations to obtain the associated risk assessments; the development of integrated processes for environmental assessment evaluation in agreement with local regulations; the study of the impact on biodiversity and on the hydrologic cycle; finally, a global approach for non-hazardous and hazardous waste management and recycling both during the construction and operation phases.

Essential required qualifications and experience

  • Master degree in Energetic Engineering or Nuclear Engineering or Energy and Nuclear Engineering or Safety Engineering;
  • 36 months of post-graduate activity in public and private institutions or PhD in Energetic Engineering or Nuclear Engineering or Energy and Nuclear Engineering or Safety Engineering;
  • Good knowledge of English;
  • No criminal convictions.

 

Desired qualifications and experience

One or more of the following will be an asset:

  • Working knowledge of Italian;
  • Experience in the field of energetic engineering;
  • Experience in carbon footprint analisys and reduction.

 

Place of work

EGO – European Gravitational Observatory – via E. Amaldi 5, 56021 Loc. S.Stefano a Macerata – Cascina (Pisa) ITALY. Given the lack of public transport to reach EGO, a driving license and a personal vehicle are strongly recommended.

 

Type of contract

One-year contract, as “Tecnologo” (Technologist), according to the “Contratto Collettivo di Lavoro del Personale EGO” (EGO personnel collective bargaining agreement). The gross monthly salary, paid in thirteen instalments, is established by the aforementioned collective bargaining agreement according to the professional profile. Additional benefits include severance pay and yearly performance bonus.

 

Selection procedure

Only candidates who meet the above essential requirements are admitted to the selection procedure.
The evaluation of the candidates admitted to the procedure is assigned to a Selection Board appointed by the Director of EGO. The Selection Board will determine the evaluation criteria in the first meeting.
The first phase of the selection will be based on a review of the Application Forms and other documents received in line with the above-mentioned essential and desired requirements.
Only candidates who have obtained the minimum score established by the Selection Board in the first meeting will be able to access to the second phase of the selection, which will consist of an interview.
During the interview the Selection Board will verify the knowledge of English and Italian languages and of the other desired qualification and experiences.
At the end of the interviews the Selection Board will draw up a ranking of the candidates who obtained the minimum score established during the first meeting.

The EGO Consortium has the free right not to proceed with the recruitment.

 

Privacy policy
Controller: European Gravitational Observatory – email: ego-gw@pec.it
Responsible for data – email: privacy@ego-gw.it

Under Article 13 of UE Regulation (EU) 2016/79 of the European Parliament and of the Council, required personal data will be exclusively collected and treated for purposes strictly connected to the selection procedure also with the use of computerized procedures, according to current law and regulations concerning the implementation of this kind of activity.
Providing such data to EGO is necessary for the evaluation of participation requirements and of the holding of titles: failure to provide these data may compromise such evaluation.
Data will be kept only for the period required by the selection, evaluation and audit procedures.
EGO guarantees each person the right of access to personal data, as well as the rectification, or erasure or restriction of them, as well as the right to object to their processing; such requests shall be addressed to privacy@ego-gw.it.

 

How to apply?
Candidates can send their CV and the EGO Application Form (to be found here) together with a cover letter and eventual reference letters, to jobs@ego-gw.it quoting the reference number of this vacancy notice.

Closing date for applications
December 1, 2022

Start of contract
The earliest possible