There are two items today, [1] and [2].
[1] I attach preliminary photos from the "2013 MAGDAS/ISWI School in Africa". This was held in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, during 23-27 Sept. 2013. A full report is being generated and it will be circulated on this newsletter in the future. Special thanks to Prof. Vafi (Cote d'Ivoire), Prof. Rabiu (Nigeria), and Prof. Christine Amory (France), for helping to make this school a great success.
[2] I have been asked to forward the following message (see below) to the entire ISWI community. Please forward it to someone who perhaps would be interested in applying for this program. It certainly sounds like a good deal for an aspiring young scientist in the specified fields of study.
Leiden Observatory is inviting applications for ~10 new PhD positions (see call below). We would appreciate it if you could circulate the information below amongst the suitable candidates at your institute.
Leiden Observatory invites applications for approximately ten new PhD positions.
The four-year PhD program consists mostly of research under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Positions are available in all the research areas in which the Observatory is active. These include cosmology, galaxy formation and evolution, interstellar matter and star formation, stars and planetary systems, computational astrophysics, high energy astrophysics, laboratory astrophysics, astrochemistry, and instrumentation. More information about research at Leiden Observatory can be found at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/research/
Leiden Observatory, founded in 1633, is the oldest university astronomy department in the world. With about 25 faculty, over 40 postdoctoral associates and about 65 PhD students it is the largest astronomy department in the Netherlands. Leiden is a charming university town with an international flair. Most Leiden researchers have an international background. English is the common language. During their thesis, Leiden PhD students are paid as civil servants, which means that they earn competitive salaries (the current annual gross salary, including allowances, increases from about EUR 28,000 in year 1 to about EUR 36,000 in year 4) and are eligible for both social security and retirement benefits. PhD positions are funded for four years.
Application forms and instructions are available at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/phd/ Applicants are requested to upload a curriculum vitae, a list of all university courses taken and transcripts of grades obtained, brief statements of research interests and experience, and the contact information for at least two referees.
The successful candidates must have a MSc degree (or equivalent) by the starting date. The starting dates are negotiable.
Complete applications received by December 15, 2013 will receive full consideration.
The positions are open to candidates from all countries. The research will be carried out in the framework of the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA). More information about the PhD program at Leiden Observatory can be found at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/phd/.
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(1) Photo Collage from the "2013 MAGDAS/ISWI School in Africa"
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