EXPRESSION OF INTEREST IN HOSTING POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS
The SA SKA Project’s Youth into Science and Engineering Programme
To increase the number of highly-skilled scientists and engineers able to support the SKA and MeerKAT during the design, construction and operational phases of the telescopes, the SA SKA Project Office initiated a youth into science and engineering programme in 2004. Part of this programme supports postgraduate students. The objective in the first instance is to provide sufficient numbers of scientists and engineers to participate in the design and construction of the MeerKAT and the SKA, and to use these telescopes once they are operational, so further developing a vibrant South African astronomy research and teaching community. MSc and PhD scholarships are being offered to South African students and students from other countries in Africa, studying at South African universities or at universities in the African countries that have partnered with the South African SKA site proposal.
Eligibility for scholarships from the SA SKA Postgraduate Scholarship Programme
The following students may apply for SA SKA Project postgraduate scholarships:
• South African citizens and permanent residents of South Africa who wish to complete an MSc or PhD degree at a South African university.
• Non – South Africans from other countries in Africa who wish to complete an MSc or PhD degree at a South African university.
• Non – South Africans who wish to complete an MSc or PhD degree at a university in an SA SKA Partner Country: Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Kenya and Ghana.
Research topics and supervisions of research
• The research focus for the SKA PhD and MSc scholarships must align very closely with specific areas of MeerKAT, SKA, PAPER and C-BASS science and technology where research is required.
• The MSc and PhD projects (particularly the astronomy projects) must include a component of practical skills development (e.g. data analysis and/or computer simulations) so that the student acquires the necessary skills to become a competent (radio) astronomy researcher or engineer.
To this end, proposals for projects are invited to which students may apply for support by completing the attached form.
Note that projects deemed to directly address critical aspects of MeerKAT science and engineering will be given priority over those with a more generic scope
Please submit applications to Rose Robertson at
rose@nrf.ac.za by 17 June
for more information;
http://www.nrf.ac.za/funding_overview.php?page0=2