Fellowship Application FAQ
This page attempts to answer the most frequently asked questions about ESO
fellowship applications.
Should an answer be unclear or incomplete for your purposes, please feel
free to send an email to <mrejkuba@eso.org>
Below, we address questions related to the applications only.
In general, this means `having submitted their thesis' (with at least some unofficial feedback that is most likely to be accepted), and having a date fixed for the examination (which can in exceptional circumstances be after the start of the fellowship).
No, the application should be done through the on web form available on the ESO jobs web page. The CV, publication list (only refereed papers please) and the research plan should be attached to that form. The preferred format for the attachments is pdf. Letters of reference should be sent directly by the referees to vacancy@eso.org. They can be plain emails (but they make a much better impression if they are .pdf).
The application material should be addressed to "Fellowship programme". A cover letter or letter of reference is best addressed by "To whom it may concern", or "Dear sir/madam".
We do not insist in getting a recent photograph if you have problems attaching it to the electronic application form. It is certainly not a selection criterion.
The 2 pages limit applies to the total of "current and past research and
your research plans" (not to each of them).
Please consider that we are reviewing more than 100 applications in only
a few days. I.e. typically, a reviewer will read 20-40 applications per
day and, in the first pass, only dedicate 10-15 minutes to your material.
Your application should be pleasant to read and convey the reader clearly
your interest/motivation and strength. As an easy check, read your
application slowly and see how far you get in 10 min (and then imagine
doing this after having read about 10-20 very similar applications): did
your application stand out of the lot?
From your application we would like to know as much as possible about you
and your scientific achievements, as well as about your research plans for
the future. Due to large number of applications we typically receive, we had
to put a limit to 2 pages for the research plan. Within these two pages you
can write about your scientific achievements and current research, as well
as about your plans for research at ESO.
The format is free, but given the limited
space you should probably give only a summary of your past/current
research and be more specific how your envisage your research would evolve
in the next few years.
They can be prepared as pdf files and uploaded on page 2 of the web application form. Additional fields can be created by pressing the button "add additional file".
The submission of all the publications is not a requirement for the fellowship applications. We can easily access the publications listed in the publication list (attached on page 2, see above) through the ADS if necessary. In any case, given the very large number of applications we typically receive, we won't have time to read the publications. This is more useful for other vacancies at ESO, because the same web application form is used for all the jobs.
Notice period is normally the minimum time necessary before one can take the new job. At the moment the web application form is rather new and is the same for all jobs at ESO. We hope to have it improved in the future. For now, the best information to give in the "Notice period" field is your preferred starting date for the Fellowship.
We have, unfortunately, a very strict schedule for duplicating and reviewing the 100+ applications we are getting. Material late by more than a few days will not be duplicated, i.e. will not be available to reviewers when evaluating your application. It is considered again for all candidates on our first long list, but your application might never make it that far if material is missing in the first place...
More details on the employment conditions and benefits can be found under the Outline of the Terms of Service for Fellows.
The basic monthly salary of a fellow is around 3000 Euros. This basic salary is not subject to national income tax but subject to several other modifiers (adjustments, allowances, etc) partly detailed under the above link.
Fellows do not administrate their own research budgets. Their research budget is commonly managed by the office for science. Costs for observing runs are typically always covered, as well as conference costs within a reasonable limit (typically 1 oversee and a couple of continental conferences per year). Modern computing facilities are provided, as well as professional and efficient system administration. Other costs such as pages charges are covered on a case by case basis.
Fellows are represented in the visitor selection committee and
are encouraged to suggest possible candidates for extended research
visits at ESO. Short stays at institutes of collaborators are also
(at least partly) supported.
The supervision of students is not officially foreseen, but occasionally
occurs in collaboration with a faculty member.
The functional work depends on the duty station. The basics are outlined
in the
ESO Fellowship Announcement.
In Chile, the functional work is dominated by Science Operations
activities (80 nights per year). At first
exclusively during daytime (instrument calibrations, introductions to observers,
...); later also during nighttime (observation support, execution of
service mode programmes, ...). It is accompanied by about 35 days in
Santiago.
In Garching, the functional work is determined by the current needs of
the organisation and could be any of e.g. instrument development, data
management/pipelines, virtual observatory/archive activities, public relations
work, .... It is agreed upon with the head of the office for science at
the beginning of the fellowship, and can be re-discussed periodically if
needed.
For a general overview of ALMA: download
the
ALMA lecture by Robert Laing.
For the most recent news, check the
ALMA News and Events
pages and ALMA project pages
for general information about the project.
Technically, there is none. All employment conditions are the same (except for the sites at which the functional work is performed). The ALMA fellowships are regular ESO fellowships that we intend to give to young researcher working on ALMA related science.
There is no box to 'tick' or field to fill, but it is helpful, if you indicate this in a short cover letter.
Going ahead. The European antenna contract was signed end of 2005 and was the largest hurdle to get before steaming ahead.
We aren't supposed to reveal dates but for guidance, the current plan says 3-element+ interferometer late 2008 (+ means Japanese antennas in addition). A year of commissioning and science verification; early science late 2009.
Bands 3, 6, 7 and 9 will all arrive simultaneously. That is 84-116, 211-275, 275-373 and 602-702 GHz. Polarisation
Yes, definitely. ESO will be hiring further ALMA Regional Centre (ARC) staff (as part of the Data and Operations Division) in Garching, probably starting ~2007 and there will be a significant number of jobs in Chile. The head of the ARC is Paola Andreani.
Work with APEX is one possibility. Also helping with observing at the ALMA Test Facility in Socorro. Starting 2008, potential involvement in the commissioning and early science programme.
Last update, September 2007