STFC/POST Parliamentary Fellowship Scheme

An exciting opportunity is available for a STFC funded PhD student to undertake a three month secondment to the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). Working in Westminster, the scheme will enable the successful applicant to assist POST with their busy research workload and gain valuable insights into the work of Parliament and the policy making process.

POST is the UK Parliament’s in-house source of objective, balanced and independent briefing materials aimed at MPs and Peers from across Parliament. Their work is focused on informing parliamentary debate on science and technology issues by:

·     Publishing accessible science and technology briefings  and reports

·     Supporting Select Committees with informal advice, oral briefings, data analysis, background papers and follow-up research during committee inquiries

·     Organising discussions and events to stimulate debate within Parliament on topical issues

·     Horizon-scanning to anticipate scientific and technological issues which are likely to influence and impact public policy.

The successful applicant will be expected to assist POST fulfil its duties whilst on secondment, and this may include:

·         Producing a POSTnote on a given topic

·         Contributing to a longer POST report

·         Assisting a select committee in a current inquiry.  

This opportunity is available to all STFC funded PhD students in their second or third years at the time of application.

Follow this link for further details and instructions on how to apply
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/Funding+and+Grants/18640.aspx

Fellowships for PhD Students in Solar System Physics

www.solar-system-school.de

The “International Max Planck Research School on Physical Processes in the Solar System and Beyond” at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Katlenburg-Lindau, and the Universities of Braunschweig and Goettingen, Germany, offers excellent research possibilities for students to obtain a PhD degree in a 3-years graduate program.

The program covers the full range of physics inherent in the field of solar system science from geophysics and planetary physics to solar physics as well as the underlying fundamental physics. The science program is complemented by training in computational physics, space technology and project management.

High-profile space missions, outstanding projects for ground-based instruments and data analysis, as well as theoretical and extensive numerical modeling provide a wide range of research possibilities for PhD students.

Applications for the program are open to highly-qualified and well-motivated students from all countries. A prerequisite is a diploma or master of science degree in physics or a related field, including a corresponding thesis. Proficiency in English is required.

The next PhD program will start in January 2011, review of application begins on 1 August 2010. Successful applicants will receive adequate financial support.

The application documents should include a CV, the filled application form (see web page), copies of university certificates and two letters of recommendation. The application can be send either by mail or by email (preferentially one attachment in pdf format).

For details on the IMPRS program and the application procedure, please visit
http://www.solar-system-school.de
or email to
info@solar-system-school.de

Address applications to

Dr. Dieter Schmitt
Coordinator IMPRS Solar System School
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Max-Planck-Str. 2
37191 Katlenburg-Lindau
Germany

Tel: +49 5556 979 431
Fax: +49 5556 979 190

INTERDISCIPLINARY PHD STUDENTSHIP

School of Mathematical Sciences / Physics Department / Queen Mary University of London

Applications are invited for EPSRC PhD studentship to work on a novel, interdisciplinary project which intends to investigate the interaction of high energy plasma particles with the conducting walls by combining plasma kinetic simulation effort (D. Tsiklauri, School of Mathematical Sciences, QMUL) with the molecular dynamics simulation of radiation damage (K. Trachenko, Physics Department, QMUL). The project is within EPSRC’s energy theme and is related to the thermonuclear fusion effort. The project’s plasma kinetic simulation effort will utilise, leading in the field, computational tools such as EPOCH Particle-In-cell (PIC) code which has been developed for the laser-plasma interaction studies and supported to by the EPSRC?s CCPP project. The project’s radiation damage effort will focus on the impact of the plasma particles on the reactor walls and will employ the state-of-the art massive parallel molecular dynamics (MD) code DL_POLY.

UK students will receive 3.5 years of EPSRC stipend (15290 p.a.), fee waiver and 1200 p.a. research training funding.

Standard EPSRC residency rules apply:

http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/StudentEligibility.htm

The most convenient way to apply is to use on-line service (by copying *entire* URL below into the browser window):

http://www.qmul.ac.uk/courses/courses.php?dept_id=16&pgcourses=2&course_id=289&course_level=1&article_id=278#applyonline

[then choose Full time application * PhD Mathematical Sciences (Semester 1 start; Aug - Dec)]

The application should include completed online form, academic transcript, and two references. If your referees prefer to send their references directly, these can me emailed to L.Matomaki@qmul.ac.uk and marked “C/O Dr David Tsiklauri EPSRC DTA INTERDISCIPLINARY PHD”

Informal queries can be addressed to:

Dr D. Tsiklauri via email: D.Tsiklauri -at- qmul.ac.uk
or
Dr K. Trachenko via email: K.Trachenko -at- qmul.ac.uk

The deadline is 25 June 2010.

The proposed start date is September, 2010

1) A fellowship for a Ph.D. student for 4 years in solar physics. The selected candidate is required to spend 25% of her/his time on teaching or other obligations. The Ph.D. student must start her/his studies at the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics before 1st October, 2010. Application deadline: 15th May, 2010. For further information and application procedure, see http://uio.easycruit.com/vacancy/400984/64278?iso=no

2) A postdoctoral research fellowship for 3 years within either solar physics or cosmology. The selected candidate must start in the position before 1st October, 2010. Application deadline: 31st May. For further information and application procedure, see the following link: http://www.admin.uio.no/opa/ledige-stillinger/2010/vitenskapelige/postdoctoralresearchfellowAstrophysics-2010-4502.html

Best regards,

Mats Carlsson

To IFA’s VIP’s and Students.

Yesterday we circulated the information about Lindhard scholarships. Now we have a suitable address to use when you encourage your network to help. I include that in the sketch below. But I hope you add your peronal
appeal. This will make a difference.

Aksel

—————

Dear NN

The department of Physics and Astronomy at Aarhus University wishes to recruit talented students with a bachelor degree for a fully financed Phd-education. As a first step, we invite applications for a financed study
in Aarhus for half a year, and followed by the possibility of direct continuation into a full PhD-program for those best qualified.

The announcement, which has a very tight deadline, can be found on:

http://www.phys.au.dk/Lindhard.Scholar/

I would therefore very much appreciate if you would give this information to the, recently graduated or soon to be, bachelors at your institute. I also see this as a way to initiate or strengthen the collaboration between
our groups.

I sincerely hope to get applications from your institution.

The announcement and the application form can also be found by following the link:

https://ssl1.peoplexs.com/Peoplexs22/CandidatesPortalNoLogin/Vacancy.cfm?Por
talID=2547&VacatureID=84943

PhD in Solar Physics – Northumbria University

http://computing.unn.ac.uk/staff/rnwp2/studentships_McLAUGHLIN.pdf

Applications are invited to study for a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics at Northumbria University, in the areas of Solar Physics, Magnetohydrodynamics and Mathematical Modelling of Solar Phenomena. Fully-funded studentships are available.

Magnetohydrodynamics is the study of magnetic fluids and gives a good description of the dynamics of the Sun’s atmosphere. If you are looking for a Ph.D. that combines the areas of fluid mechanics, electromagnetism and astronomy, then perhaps a Ph.D. in Solar Physics is for you.

Several potential projects are available, including mathematical modelling of solar phenomena, magnetic wave propagation in inhomogeneous media and the comparison of models with solar satellite data.

Applicants should be highly motivated and have a good Honours degree in Applied Mathematics, Physics or a related subject. No prior knowledge of solar physics is required.

Project descriptions and an online application form can be found at:
http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/researchstudentships

For further details, contact Dr James McLaughlin:
james.a.mclaughlin@northumbria.ac.uk

The Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading is pleased to invite applications for a 3-year NERC-funded PhD studentship in “Galactic cosmic rays, the Sun’s magnetic field and climate change”, supervised by Dr. Mathew Owens and Prof. Mike Lockwood.

The expected start date is October 2010. The departmental open day is March 10th, so anyone with a potential interest should e-mail Mathew Owens (m.owens@imperial.ac.uk) as soon as possible. Further details about funding and the application process can be found at http://www.met.reading.ac.uk/pg-research/pgropportunities.html

Galactic cosmic rays, the Sun’s magnetic field and climate change

Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) are extremely high energy particles which originate far outside our solar system and travel at almost the speed of light. The effects of these particles, and of the cascade of secondary particles that they produce in Earth’s atmosphere, have a number of known and postulated effects on Earth’s atmosphere, surface and lifeforms. The GCR flux incident on Earth’s atmosphere can be measured using space- or ground-based monitors. Such observations have shown that the Sun’s magnetic field (in what is termed the heliosphere) partially shields the inner solar system from energetic particles, allowing GCRs to be used as proxies for the solar magnetic field strength – and hence the Sun’s brightness – when direct measurements are not available. Prehistoric GCR fluxes are inferred from isotopic depositions in reservoirs such as ice cores, ocean sediments and tree trunks and are used in reconstruction of solar irradiance thousands of years in the past, vital for quantifying the role of solar variability in terrestrial climate change on centennial and millennial timescales. However, the justification of the use of these proxies is somewhat superficial and detailed studies of the heliospheric structure, how it shields Earth from GCRs, and how it relates to the changes in the solar photosphere are required. The student will undertake analysis and modelling of spacecraft and ground-based data to relate GCR shielding to solar magnetic activity and heliospheric structures, with an eventual goal of improving reconstruction of Sun’s irradiance for use in climate modelling.

PhD Studentship in Solar Physics

Studentship Advert

https://habu.pst.qub.ac.uk/groups/joiningarc/wiki/3c6b1/PhD_studentships.html

A PhD studentship in Solar Physics is available at Queens University Belfast. Interested applicants are requested to email Mihalis Mathioudakis for more information.

Ph.D. studentships available at the University of Exeter

We have funding for 2 PhD studentships to investigate symmetry and topological properties of magnetic fields generated in idealised electrically conducting fluid flows. The students will work with Profs. Andrew Gilbert ; and Mitchell Berger in the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics of the University of Exeter and join the internationally leading Centre for Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics

Funding:

The studentship is 3-year and fully funded (with a tax-free stipend of £13,290 British pounds for the first year). It is available starting on 1st October 2009 or as soon as possible thereafter, and is open to UK and EU citizens.

Entry Requirements:

A first class or good 2-1 honours degree in Mathematics, Physics, or a degree with a high mathematical content. The project is in the area of mathematics, no previous knowledge of magnetic fields or astrophysical applications is needed. Some background in fluid dynamics would be beneficial.

To Apply:

Formal applications will be made through the
University PG Admissions System. However it is strongly recommended that you contact Professor Andrew Gilbert (A.D.Gilbert@ex.ac.uk) or Professor Mitchell Berger (M.Berger@ex.ac.uk)  for informal discussions as soon as possible, in view of the proximity of the start date.

End date for applications  is 30th Sept 2009

Prof. Mitchell Berger           m.berger@exeter.ac.uk
Mathematics, SECAM
University of Exeter
North Park Road
Exeter EX4 4QF
United Kingdom