{"schemaVersion":"1.0","exportedAt":"2026-05-15T12:38:05.087Z","occupation":{"soc":"19-2011.00","title":"Astronomers","group":"Life, Physical & Social Science","sector":"54","jobZone":5,"jobZoneInferred":false},"framework":{"version":"v.26.05","description":"","contextCovered":"This framework covers the full career arc of professional astronomers working in university departments, national observatories, and research institutes — from supervised doctoral-level research through institutional leadership of large-scale observational, theoretical, and collaborative astrophysics programs.","levels":{"emerging":{"label":"Emerging","statements":["Astronomical datasets — analyze using established computational pipelines and scientific software under faculty or senior astronomer guidance.","Ground-based and space-borne telescope observations — execute according to approved observing protocols within a supervised research program.","Scientific literature — read and synthesize peer-reviewed papers to support an ongoing research project in a university or observatory setting.","Research findings — present in structured formats at internal group meetings or departmental seminars under the direction of a supervising astronomer.","Mathematical and statistical methods — apply to reduce and interpret observational data within a defined research task assigned by a principal investigator.","Astronomical databases and archival data repositories — query and retrieve relevant datasets following documented procedures in a research computing environment.","Data visualization tools and graphics software — produce plots and figures that accurately represent celestial measurements for inclusion in progress reports.","Collaborative research tasks — contribute to team projects by completing assigned sub-tasks and communicating results clearly to senior collaborators.","Physical and mathematical principles — apply foundational knowledge of physics and astrophysics to interpret observed celestial phenomena within supervised coursework or a thesis project.","Laboratory and computing safety protocols — follow consistently while operating observatory equipment and high-performance computing systems in a research facility."]},"developing":{"label":"Developing","statements":["Observational data from multiple telescope platforms — analyze independently using scientific and development environment software to identify statistically significant astrophysical signals.","Celestial phenomena investigations — design and execute observing programs using ground-based and space-borne instruments with reduced oversight in a professional research setting.","Journal manuscripts and conference papers — draft and revise to communicate research findings to the broader astronomical community with limited editorial guidance.","Scientific conference presentations — deliver oral or poster presentations of original research findings to specialist audiences at national or international meetings.","Theoretical models of celestial systems — develop and refine based on personal observations and published literature, situating conclusions within the current state of the field.","Graduate student researchers — assist in day-to-day supervision of data collection and analysis tasks within an observatory or university research group.","Collaborative multi-investigator projects — coordinate assigned contributions, manage shared datasets, and integrate results into cohesive research outputs.","Astronomy or astrophysics course content — teach introductory or intermediate topics in a university classroom, adapting instructional strategies to student learning needs.","Complex problem-solving approaches — select and justify appropriate analytical or computational methods when addressing non-routine observational anomalies in a research program.","Research proposals for internal funding or telescope time allocation — prepare with clearly defined scientific objectives and feasibility assessments under senior review."]},"proficient":{"label":"Proficient","statements":["Large-scale astronomical datasets — independently design and execute end-to-end computational analyses, drawing significant scientific conclusions for peer-reviewed publication.","Original astrophysical theories — develop from synthesis of personal observational results and broader disciplinary literature, advancing understanding of celestial phenomena in a research institution.","Full observing campaigns across ground-based and space-borne telescope networks — plan, coordinate, and execute autonomously, adapting methods when non-routine instrumental or environmental conditions arise.","Peer-reviewed research articles — author and submit to high-impact scientific journals, responding to reviewer critiques with rigorous scientific and rhetorical precision.","Graduate student thesis research — supervise comprehensively from project design through dissertation defense, ensuring scientific rigor and professional development in a university department.","Multi-institutional collaborative research projects — lead scientific coordination, align team contributions to shared objectives, and arbitrate methodological decisions across partner organizations.","External grant proposals to federal agencies or foundations — develop with full scientific justification, broader impact narratives, and detailed technical approaches as principal investigator.","Emerging computational and instrumentation technologies — evaluate, adopt, and integrate into active research workflows to maintain methodological currency in a rapidly evolving field.","Astronomy or astrophysics graduate courses — design curricula and deliver instruction that bridges foundational theory with frontier research in a doctoral-granting program.","Cross-disciplinary research problems — apply astronomical expertise in collaboration with physicists, engineers, and data scientists to address complex questions that span traditional domain boundaries."]},"advanced":{"label":"Advanced","statements":["Institutional research strategy and long-range scientific agenda — define and champion for an observatory, research center, or university astronomy department at the organizational level.","Major telescope facility or space mission programs — provide scientific leadership to shape instrument design requirements, observational priorities, and data-access policies at a programmatic scale.","Flagship peer-reviewed publications and review articles — author to synthesize decades of research and set the conceptual framework for future inquiry across the astronomical community.","Junior faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students — mentor systematically through sponsorship, feedback, and professional networking to build the next generation of astronomical scientists.","Large interdisciplinary research consortia or national collaborations — lead governance, resource allocation, and scientific prioritization across dozens of investigators and institutions.","High-stakes funding portfolios — secure and steward multi-year, multi-million-dollar grants from federal agencies, shaping the financial and scientific trajectory of a research program.","Decadal survey panels and scientific advisory boards — contribute expert judgment to national priority-setting processes that determine observatory investments and mission portfolios for the field.","Graduate and postdoctoral training programs — design and implement at institutional scale, embedding inclusive pedagogical and mentorship frameworks that advance workforce diversity.","Transformative astrophysical theories or discoveries — communicate to scientific and public audiences through keynote addresses, media engagements, and policy testimony, translating complex findings into broad impact.","Organizational culture of scientific excellence, ethical practice, and innovation — model and cultivate across a department or research enterprise, setting norms that govern conduct and collaboration."]}}},"sources":{"onet":"v30.2 (CC BY 4.0)","crosswalk":"https://skillscrosswalk.com","generator":"LER.me"},"attribution":"© EBSCOed"}