Researching the Universe

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) was founded in 1956 to provide scientists with large radio telescopes necessary for continued advancement in the science of radio astronomy. The majority of our employees are located Charlottesville, VA; Green Bank, WV; Socorro, NM; and Tucson, AZ. The NRAO facilities are centers for astrophysical research for astronomers from all over the world. Each year more than 850 scientists use the telescopes to detect the weak radio waves coming from space in order to understand the nature of objects such as quasars, masers, pulsars, and black holes.

The NRAO is a facility of the National Science Foundation and is operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. NRAO operates the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. This telescope, recently constructed, is the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world. The Very Large Array Telescope is not one structure but an array of 27 antennas that are connected electronically to synthesize a single radio telescope 20 miles in diameter. This system of telescopes produces radiophotographs of celestial objects and is located in Plains of San Agustin near Socorro, New Mexico. NRAO operates another system of 10 radio telescopes known as the Very Long Baseline Array that links telescopes spread across the U.S. from St. Croix, Virgin Islands to Mauna Kea, Hawaii. This instrument offers scientists the most detailed views of celestial objects available from any telescope on Earth or in space. If your eyes could perceive comparable detail, you could read a newspaper in New York while sitting in Los Angeles!

NRAO is now embarking on an exciting new project, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array that will be an international partnership between the U.S., Europe and possibly other countries. This array of 64 telescopes will be located in the Atacama Desert of Chile because the sky above has the unsurpassed clarity and stability essential for millimeter wave astronomy.

Benefits Overview

The NRAO environment, part academic and part corporate, provides for a rather unique work setting. This blend of cultures provides for diversity and opportunity unique to a research institution. NRAO is proud to offer a variety of family friendly benefits. Among these are competitive wages, Medical and Dental Insurance, LTD, Flex plans for Medical and Dependent Care expenses, Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance and AD&D insurance, and Travel insurance. Employees participate in a generous Qualified 401(a) Retirement plan, may choose an additional 403(b) Supplemental Retirement plan, sick leave, holiday and vacation schedule; and flexible work schedules are available at many locations.

The diversity of international cooperation in astronomical research naturally promotes a diverse workplace. NRAO encourages diversity in it's research associations, educational programs, and employment. We are an affirmative action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V. Please visit the NRAO Home Page at www.nrao.edu/