The
Anglo-Australian Observatory
(AAO) is offering PhD top-up scholarships to students at
Australian universities. The scholarship terms and conditions are as
follows:
The AAO is offering up to two PhD top-up scholarships in 2008, each for a
period of 3 years, with a possible extension for a further
6 months. The value of the scholarships will be $5000 per
annum. Annual renewal is conditional upon satisfactory performance by
the student.
The scholarships are open to students accepted for a PhD programme at
any Australian university who are substantially co-supervised by an
AAO staff member. The scholarships can support students with
backgrounds in astronomy, physics, engineering or mathematics with
thesis research programs in astronomy or astronomical instrumentation
(and related fields). The scholarships are available to overseas
students as well, provided they enroll at an Australian university for
their PhD study.
The scholarships will be awarded by an AAO selection panel on the
primary basis of the students' academic merit and research potential,
provided that the panel considers that the student is of sufficiently
high quality (First-Class Honours or equivalent, including Masters
degrees) and the AAO co-supervisor has a substantial role in the
student's thesis project.
For students meeting these conditions and of approximately equal
merit, the selection panel may take into account secondary
considerations such as the extent to which the student's research will
make use of facilities operated or managed by the AAO (including the
AAT, UKST, Gemini and Magellan) and the alignment of the thesis
research with major programmes or research themes (including
instrumentation) being undertaken by AAO staff or using AAO
facilities.
Application Procedure
Potential students and supervisors should visit the
AAO student web
pages, where additional information (including research
interests of staff members and potential PhD projects) can be found.
An application form is available here,
in
Microsoft Word
format
and
PDF
format. Applications by email are preferred, and as well as the
completed form your application should include
- A description of your PhD research (not more than 2 A4 pages),
including what data you have access to, what other observations
may be necessary (or lab facilities in the case of
instrumentation), and the project timescale and milestones. This
outline of research should be read and endorsed by both your
University and AAO co-supervisors before you submit your
application.
- A transcript of academic
record (if your university supplies only hardcopy transcripts, please
scan it and send us the JPEG or PDF file).
- Please ensure that letters of reference from the two academic
referees listed on your application form arrive by the 01 March
2008 deadline. One of the referees can be your University PhD
co-supervisor; other suitable referees might include a supervisor
for your undergraduate Honours or Masters project.
- You may also include a short CV detailing any other relevant
information (for example: jobs you have had; other research
projects you have worked on; why you are interested in
Astronomy/Astrophysics/Instrumentation.)
Applications should be sent to
the AAO's Student Coordinator, Dr Andy Bunker (email:
bunker - @ - aao.gov.au). Email is preferred, but
printed applications that arrive before the 1 March 2008 deadline
will also be considered; the postal address is:
Dr Andy Bunker, Head of Astronomy
Anglo-Australian Observatory
PO Box 296
Epping NSW 1710
Further enquiries should be directed to Dr Andy Bunker (email:
bunker - @ - aao.gov.au; phone: 02-9372-4851).
Deadline
Scholarship applications are normally due by 1 March of the year in
which students start their PhD. Students wishing to apply at other
times of year should discuss their situation with the AAO's Student
Coordinator before making an application.
