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FAQs: Fellowship Program |
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See also Fellows web page
Table of Contents: Q: What is the Spitzer Fellowship Program? Q: When did the Fellowship Program begin? Q: When will the solicitation for proposals be issued? Q: Who is qualified to submit a proposal? Q: If I wish to request Spitzer observing time as part of my Fellowship application, what must I include in the application? Q: Is there a Fellows Symposium scheduled? Q: What is the Spitzer Fellowship Program?A: The Spitzer Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for highly qualified and recent postdoctoral scientists to conduct independent research towards the goal of enhancing the overall scientific return from the Spitzer mission. This can be accomplished through a proposal to conduct new observations with Spitzer, through exploitation of Spitzer archival databases (including data from the Legacy Science projects and the First-Look Survey), or through research that aids in the interpretation of Spitzer results, including laboratory astrophysics and theoretical investigations. Research must be conducted at a U.S.-based Host Institution chosen by the Fellow.
Q: When did the Fellowship Program begin?A: The inaugural round of three-year appointments began in the autumn of 2002.
Q: When will the solicitation for proposals be issued?A: Solicitations are electronically issued each August, with proposals due in November. The SSC anticipates naming up to 5 new Fellows annually, with solicitations in late summer and proposals due in November. For more information, please see the Spitzer Fellows web page.
Q: Who is qualified to submit a proposal?A: Applicants must have received a Ph.D., Sc.D., or equivalent doctoral-level research degree in astronomy, physics, or a related discipline on or after January 1, two years prior to the year of the solicitation for proposals (e.g. for the 2007 fellows, issued in 2006, applications must have received their Ph.D. no earlier than January 1, 2004). Applicants who have not yet formally received their degree must indicate the date by which they anticipate receiving their degree and present evidence of having completed the academic requirements before commencing the Fellowship. Spitzer Fellows must be based at a U.S. institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, creed, color, age, sex, or national origin. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Q: If I wish to request Spitzer observing time as part of my Fellowship application, what must I include in the application?A: Applicants applying to the Spitzer Fellowship Program have the option of requesting observing time, as specified in Section 2.4.1 of the Application Guidelines. A maximum of 50 hours of Director's Discretionary Time is allocated to all of the newly approved Fellows for one year only. (They will be expected to compete for General Observer time in subsequent years.) The applicant should describe the proposed observations in as much detail as possible and as can reasonably be accommodated within the confines of a three-page research proposal. More specifically, applicants should indicate what Spitzer instruments they intend to use, and should (at a minimum) describe the general characteristics of their intended targets. Applicants do not need to submit detailed Astronomical Observation Requests (AORs) generated by Spot (the tool used by Spitzer observers to create observations), although they are encouraged to use Spot to derive credible estimates of observing time (plus overheads) required for their program. Alternatively, they should consult online information about Spitzer sensitivities to estimate required observing times (plus overheads) required for their program. If new Spitzer observations are not described as part of the Fellowship application, the applicant cannot receive observing time as part of their Fellowship award.
Q: Is there a Fellows Symposium scheduled?A: We plan to have Fellows Symposia annually in the Spring. For more information, please see the Spitzer Fellows web page. Go back to FAQ page.
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help@spitzer.caltech.edu http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/faq/fellows.html
