Graduate Fellowship Program

• Introduction
• Program
• Applications (apply here)
• More Info

Introduction

2013 Carnegie Observatories Graduate Research Fellowship

We announce the continuation of the Graduate Research Fellowship at the Carnegie Observatories in Pasadena, California. This Fellowship supports graduate students interested in carrying out all or part of their thesis research under the supervision of a Carnegie Staff member. We encourage applications from current Ph.D. graduate students in astronomy from an accredited (US or non-US) university, pursuing thesis research in observational astronomy, theoretical astrophysics, or instrumentation development. The Fellowship, beginning in September, 2013, will be awarded for one year and may be renewed for two additional years. Applications are due by April 19, 2013, 17:00 PDT; application instructions can be found in the Applications section below.

With 15 senior Staff members and 17 postdoctoral fellows and associates, Carnegie Observatories provides a vibrant environment for vigorous scientific research and academic excellence. Major areas of research include cosmology and the distance scale, physics of active galactic nuclei, searches for massive black holes, galaxy formation and evolution, galaxy groups and clusters, intergalactic medium, star formation, supernovae, star clusters, and nucleosynthesis and chemical abundances of stars.

Carnegie observing facilities at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile include the two 6.5-meter Magellan telescopes, the 2.5-meter du Pont telescope, and the Swope 1.0-meter telescope. In addition, the scientific Staff actively pursue research using a wide range of ground-based and space-based facilities, across the electromagnetic spectrum from radio to X-rays.

For a list of recent and current students who have recently done research at Carnegie, please click here.

Program

Requirements

Applicants must have completed all requisite coursework and examinations at their home institution, and be ready to conduct full-time research toward their Ph.D. dissertation, at the start of the appointment. Since the Ph.D. degree will be awarded by the home institution, the applicant must obtain written approval from the department chair or head granting permission for the applicant to participate in the program.

Start Date

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications by May 2013, and the Fellowship can begin as early as mid summer or early fall, or on whatever date mutually agreed upon betwen the applicant and the advisor.

Length of Award

The Fellowship is awarded for one year, but it can be extended up to two additional years, depending on the availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

Review Committee

A review committee consisting of three members from the Carnegie scientific Staff will evaluate the progress of each student annually.

Advisors

For a list of staff members and associates, click here.

Projects

Highlighted topics lead to project description pages. More project pages to come soon!

• Andrew Benson
  • Quantifying the Ability of Gravitational Lensing to Test CDM/WDM/SIDM
• Luis Ho
  • The ISM Content of Type 2 Quasars: Testing Models of Black Hole Growth
  • The Stellar Population of Quasar Host Galaxies
• Andy McWilliam
  • Chemical Abundance Analysis of Stars and Chemical Evolution
• John Mulchaey
  • Casting Light on Warm-Hot Baryons
• Josh Simon
  • A Search for the Most Metal-Poor Stars in the Local Group
  • The Cusp/Core Problem: How Does Triaxiality Change the Observed Density Profiles of Dark Matter Halos?
  • The Kinematics of the Lowest Density Stellar Systems

Applications

Deadline: April 19, 2013, 17:00 PDT

Application Instructions: All application materials, except for the transcript of grades (see below), should be submitted online through this link. Documents should be uploaded in PDF format. Deadline for submission is April 19, 2013, 17:00 PDT; no late applications will be accepted. We strongly recommend that applicants begin the application process as early as possible. If there are any problems, please contact gradfellowships@obs.carnegiescience.edu. A complete application consists of the following items:  

1. Cover letter
   Brief cover letter summarizing the application and its contents.
2. Department head/chair approval letter
3. Research project advisor
   A list of potential advisors and projects is given in the previous section. Applicants should take the iniative to contact the prospective advisor ahead of time to discuss the project(s) he/she is interested in.
4. Research project title
   Title of research project to be conducted with the Carnegie advisor.
5. References letters (3)
   Letters of recommendation should be sent by three individuals familiar with the academic qualifications and scientific potential of the applicant. If English is not the native language of the applicant, the letters should assess his or her English proficiency. The letters should be submitted by email to gradfellowships@obs.carnegiescience.edu, no later than the deadline date of April 19, 2013.
6. Transcript of grades
   An official transcript of the the applicant's courses and grades should be mailed by the university Registrar to the following address. If the transcript is not in English, the original version must be submitted with a certified English translation. All materials must be received by the deadline date of April 19, 2013.

         Graduate Research Fellowship
         Carnegie Observatories
         813 Santa Barbara Street
         Pasadena, CA 91101
         U.S.A.

7. CV and publication record
   A curriculum vitae documenting your academic record, and a list of publications, if any.
8. Statement of previous and current research (maximum 4 pages)
   Describe any past or ongoing research projects.
9. Summary of research project (maximum 4 pages)
   Describe the proposed research project with enough details and background so that it can be evaluated for feasibility and scientific merit by the fellowship selection committee.

The Carnegie Institution for Science is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

More Info

Local Logistics

Upon arrival, arrange to meet with the following individuals:

• Luis Ho, Fellowship Program Coordinator
• Beverly Fink, Executive Assistant
• Paul Collison, Computer Systems Manager
• Vgee Ramiah, Business Manager

Academic Life and Social Events

Students are strongly encouraged to participate fully in the academic and social life of the Observatories, including

• Science Tea: Scientists gather daily at 11:00 am in the lobby of the Golden Auditorium to discuss their latest research and preprints from astro-ph.
• Colloquium: Astronomy colloquium every Tuesday at 4:00 pm in Golden Auditorium, preceded by refreshments at 3:30 pm. A full schedule of colloquium talks can be found here.
• Lunch Seminar: Informal lunch seminar on most Fridays at 12:15 pm in the conference room. A full schedule of lunchtalks can be found here.
• Friday Beer: Postdocs arrange a social event every Friday at 5:00 pm in the courtyard. Beer, wine, and light snacks served.
• Coffee Club: An expresso machine is available in the lobby of the Golden Auditorium.

Living in Pasadena

Housing

The cost of housing is relatively expensive in Pasadena, but there is a wide range of prices (and levels of comfort). A basic private bedroom room within a private house costs around $600/month, while a private one-bedroom apartment can run upwards of $1000/month. Some are furnished. A good resource for housing options is craigslist.

Utilities

Basic telephone service is about $30-$50/month; high-speed internet and cable TV about $50/month; gas and electricity each about $30/month.

Weather and Clothing

This is sunny southern California, and the weather is, well, almost always perfect. Annual temperatures range from an average low of 52 F to an average high of 78 F. Just use lots of sunscreen.

Public Transportation

Unfortunately, southern California is not well-known for its public transportation. However, there are local buses, and the Metro Gold Line does connect Pasadena to downtown Los Angeles. For more information on public transportation, see here.

Visa Information

Foreign nationals coming to the US for research or study are usually eligible to apply for a J-1 visa as an exchange visitor. The Human Resources department can provide the appropriate visa authorization and further instruction. Please contact Vgee Ramiah for assistance.

Please note that Carnegie only issues J-1 visas to Fellowship students. Under no circumstances can the J-1 visa be renewed or extended beyond the time limitation of the visa, nor can any other type of visa be issued during the student's tenure at Carnegie. If there are any questions regarding the visa policy, please contact us before applying.

General Questions

Questions about the application process or proposed research projects should be sent by email to the Fellowship Program Coordinator, Dr. Luis Ho, at gradfellowships@obs.carnegiescience.edu.

Mailing and Contact Information

      Graduate Research Fellowship
      Carnegie Observatories
      813 Santa Barbara Street
      Pasadena, CA 91101
      U.S.A.

Email: gradfellowships@obs.carnegiescience.edu
Tel: (626) 304-0248
Fax: (626) 795-8136

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