APRIL 2012 - TOPICS

Short News Call for applications for the position of the Director for the new Institute of NOA Job Openings Academy of Athens Scholarship for Post Graduate studies in Astronomy Graduate Studies in Astrophysics in Crete for 2012-2013 Advanced Astrophysics and Space Physics Degrees in France Carnegie Observatories Graduate Fellowships The 8th IRAM mm Interferometry School Upcoming Astronomy Meetings in Greece About this Newsletter

1. SHORT NEWS

We would like to congratulate the members of our Society, Drs. A. Bonanos, I. Contopoulos, V. Pavlidou, and E. Xilouris, whose proposals were selected for funding within the "Aristeia" action of GSRT.

2. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW INSTITUTE OF NOA

GSRT issued a call for applications for the position of the Director of the "Institute of Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing" of the National Observatory of Athens. The application deadline is May 14, 2012. More information can be found here.

3. JOB OPENINGS

Three postdoctoral positions in observational/theoretical astrophysics focusing on the interpretation of the X-ray and infrared properties of distant galaxies are available at the National Observatory of Athens, the University of Athens and the University of Crete. The appointments, which are expected to commence in Autumn 2012, are part of a large programme that involves researchers at the National Observatory of Athens, University of Athens, University of Crete, MPE/Munich, CEA/Saclay, Bologna, Oxford and CfA/Harvard. For more information visit: http://www.helas.gr/events/noa_thalis_2012.pdf

4. ACADEMY OF ATHENS SCHOLARSHIP FOR POST-GRADUATE STUDIES IN ASTRONOMY

The Academy of Athens has announced a call for applications for one scholarship for post-graduate studies in Astronomy in Greece. The application deadline is April 17, 2012. All candidates will have to take exams on the subjects: "Mechanics", "Cosmology" and "Astrophysics (Stars and Galaxies)". The exams will take place on May 2, 2012. More information can be found here.

5. GRADUATE STUDIES IN ASTROPHYSICS IN CRETE FOR 2012-2013

The Department of Physics of the Univ. of Crete, in collaboration with the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH) is issuing a Call for Applications for the 2012-2013 Graduate Program in "Advanced Physics". A number of graduate fellowships towards a 1-year Master's Program in "Astrophysics & Space Physics", as well as towards a 3-year PhD Program in Theoretical or Observational Astrophysics are available. The Astrophysics Group in Crete would like to encourage all interested undergraduate and Masters' students to consider the possibilities the Department of Physics and FORTH have to offer. For more information on the Astrophysics Graduate Program in Crete please check the following [PDF file]. The application deadline is July 15, 2012. For details about the overall program as well as the application process you may visit the Crete Physics Graduate Program web page at: http://gradstudy.physics.uoc.gr More details on the astrophysics group at the University of Crete are available at: http://astro.physics.uoc.gr

6. ADVANCED ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE PHYSICS DEGREES IN FRANCE

A number of graduate programs in astrophysics in the area of Paris (France), welcome students from Universities around the world who are interested in pursuing advanced research degrees in Astrophysics and Space Science. Since these possibilities are not well understood, we use this opportunity to present in this newsletter a concise description of the different levels of entry in the French system. The Master programs in France usually last 2 academic years, called “M1” and “M2” respectively. Students follow a number of advanced courses in astrophysics, physics, and mathematics, depending on the specific area. The “M1” corresponds to the 4th year of University studies in Greece. Since the duration of an undergraduate University degree in Greece is typically four years, students who have completed their undergraduate studies in a Greek University may directly enroll in the “M2” level. However, it is likely more helpful to enroll in the “M1” in order to have enough time to better adapt in the French academic system, especially for students not fluent in French. Upon their successful completion of the “M2” year and depending on their grades, students have the opportunity to obtain a fellowship towards a PhD degree. Typical fellowships provide a net monthly stipend of ~1400 Euros (which can be incremented by ~300 Euros in case a student is eligible to become a teaching assistant) for the whole three year duration of the degree. Note that a student who cannot secure a fellowship is not allowed to enroll in a PhD program. Furthermore it is more difficult but still possible for a foreign student to be offered a PhD fellowship if she/he has not completed the “M2” level in France. Even though proficiency in French language is required for “M1” and “M2” since most courses and all exams are in French, a PhD thesis can be written in English. Admission in all three levels, “M1”, “M2” and a PhD are open to applicants depending on their background and academic scores. In the Paris region a number of Universities and Institutes, such as the Observatoire de Paris, the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, the Université Paris Diderot, the Université Paris-Sud, as well as individual research laboratories are participating in a Master program entitled “Astronomie, Astrophysique et Ingénierie Spatiale”. Specific information on how to be admitted at the different levels follow: The application deadline for “M1” level is 1 June 2012 (see http://master-1.obspm.fr ). There are two different “M2” levels. An “M2 Recherche” which leads mainly to PhD studies, and an “M2 Professionnel” more oriented towards careers in space engineering. The application deadline for “M2 Recherche” is 15 June 2012 (see http://master-recherche.obspm.fr). The “M2 Professionnel” has a running application (see http://osae.obspm.fr). For graduate students who already hold a Master degree (M2), the deadline for application for a fellowship towards a PhD degree is 31 May 2012 (see http://ecole-doctorale.obspm.fr. For more information on the above please contact the Hel.A.S. members Prof. Christophe Sauty and Prof. Yannis Zouganelis. A number of plasma physics laboratories and universities of the Paris region, including the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, the Université Paris-Sud, the Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, the Institut d’Optique and the Ecole Polytechnique participate in the challenging program of the “M2” level entitled “Plasmas : de l’Espace au Laboratoire.” (see http://www.ufr925.upmc.fr/plasmas/m2_plasma.htm). This program deals with theoretical and experimental aspects of astrophysical and space plasmas (solar and magnetospheric physics, stellar evolution, interstellar plasmas), as well as laboratory and cold plasmas. As explained above, after completion of this “M2” program, candidates may apply for a PhD fellowship. The "M2" application deadline is 1 July 2012. For more information please contact the Hel.A.S. member Prof. Yannis Zouganelis.

7. CARNEGIE OBSERVATORIES GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

The Carnegie Observatories in Pasadena, CA (USA), announce the inauguration of the Graduate Research Fellowship which supports graduate students interested in carrying out all or part of their thesis research under the supervision of a Carnegie Staff member. 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. Applications from current Ph.D. students in astronomy from an accredited (US or non-US) university, pursuing thesis research in observational astronomy, theoretical astrophysics, or instrumentation development are encouraged. The deadline for registration is April 15, 2012. More information can be found at: http://obs.carnegiescience.edu/fellowships/gradfellowships

8. THE EIGHT IRAM MM INTERFEROMETRY SCHOOL

The 8th IRAM millimeter interferometry school will be held October 15th-19th 2012 at the IRAM headquarters (Grenoble, France). It is intended for students, post-docs and scientists who want to acquire a good knowledge of interferometry and data reduction techniques at millimeter wavelengths. The program includes lectures on: fundamentals of millimeter interferometry, atmospheric phase correction, data calibration and imaging techniques, the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer, the Atacama Large Submillimeter/Millimeter Array (ALMA). The school will also include sessions for practical tutorials on interferometric data reduction. For more information visit: http://www.iram-institute.org/EN/content-page-248-7-67-248-0-0.html

9. UPCOMING ASTRONOMY MEETINGS IN GREECE

From Antikythera to the Square Kilometre Array: Lessons from the Ancients Kerastari, Tripolis, 12 – 15 June 2012 The Labyrinth of Star Formation Crete, 18 – 22 June 2012 NEB 15: Recent Developments in Gravity Crete, 20 – 23 June 2012 BUKS2012: MHD Waves and Seismology of the Solar Atmosphere Crete, 4 – 7 July 2012 Half a Century of X-ray Astronomy Mykonos, 17 – 21 September 2012

10. ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

This Newsletter was sent to all members of Hel.A.S. who have e-mail access. The next edition of the Newsletter will be mailed around May 1st, 2012. Please send your announcements (e.g. appointments/departures, job openings, research opportunities, awards, conferences in Greece) or comments before April 25, 2012. If you do not wish to receive future issues of this Newsletter or the e-mail address to which it was sent is not your preferred one, please inform the Secretary of Hel.A.S.