Students in Garching, February 2008
Students in Santiago, Chile, February 2008
The ESO research student programme aims at providing opportunities to enhance the Ph.D. programmes of ESO member-state universities. Its goal is to bring young scientists into close contact with the activities and people at one of the world's foremost observatories. For more information about ESO's astronomical research activities please consult Science Activities web page.
The ESO studentship programme is shared between the ESO headquarters in Garching (Germany) and the ESO offices in Santiago (Chile). These positions are open to students enrolled in a Ph.D. programme at a university in an ESO member state or, exceptionally, at an institution outside ESO member states. Additionally, ESO will provide up to two studentship positions per year at ESO Santiago for students enrolled in Chilean universities.
Students in the programme work on their doctoral project under the formal supervision of their home university. They come to either Garching or Santiago for a stay of normally between one and two years to conduct part of their studies under the co-supervision of an ESO staff astronomer. Candidates and their home-institute supervisors should agree on a research project together with the ESO local supervisor. Potential ESO Supervisors and their research interests can be found in the lists of Faculty Members in Garching and Chile. A list of current PhD projects offered by ESO staff is available at the PhD topics web page, but for ESO studentship it is also possible to apply to work on another topic in collaboration with supervisors from the student's home university and the student. It is highly recommended that the applicants start their Ph.D. studies at their home institute before continuing their Ph.D. work and developing observational expertise at ESO.
In addition, the students in Chile have the opportunity to volunteer for as many as 40 days/night work per year at the La Silla Paranal observatory. These duties are decided on a trimester by trimester basis, aimed at giving the student insight into the observatory operations and shall not interfere with the research project of the student in Santiago.
The closing date for applications for ESO studentship programme in Garching and in Chile June 15 each year. For more information about the application procedure and the required material please see the announcement on the ESO recruitment portal.
To obtain additional information about the studentship programme in Garching, please contact Joe Liske (jliske@eso.org). To obtain additional information about the studentship programme in Santiago, please contact Michael West (mwest@eso.org).