DATE: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:52:01 +1000
SUBJECT: PhD Scholarships in Exoplanetary Science at UNSW


PhD Scholarships in Exoplanetary Science at UNSW
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The Exoplanetary Science group, based within the Department
of Astrophysics and the Australian Centre for Astrobiology,
at the University of NSW invites applications for its PhD
program and scholarships.

UNSW's research strengths cover many of the most exciting areas
in modern astronomy and astrobiology, including the search for,
and study of, extra-solar and solar-system planets, star formation,
cosmology and the astronomy from Antarctica. UNSW Astrophysics is
a key member of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology (ACA) - one
of only two Centres outside the US who are associate members of
the NASA Astrobiology Institute, allowing UNSW students to spend
time at NASA during their PhD studies.

The Exoplanetary Science group at UNSW is headed by ACA Deputy-Director
Professor Chris Tinney. This growing group is a key component of
the Anglo-Australian Planet Search (AAPS), which has discovered
more than 30 exoplanets over its 10 year lifetime. PhD projects
offered in 2010 include the search for unbound or "free-floating"
planets in star clusters with the Gemini and Magellan Telescopes,
the direct detection of exoplanets with the Gemini NICI facility,
and projects to improve the precision of the AAPS' planet detection
systems.

The Exoplanetary Science group is pleased to be able to augment all
PhD scholarship stipends by AU$6000 per year, in addition to providing
generous research support for computing facilities, travel to
conferences, and travel to national and international observatories.

For details about postgraduate study in Exoplanetary Science and
Astrobiology, including more information about potential projects,
information on team members / potential supervisors, and how to
apply to become a PhD candidate at UNSW, see the Exoplanetary Science
group's home page (http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~cgt).

Support is available under the Visit UNSW programme for qualified &
interested students to be funded to visit the UNSW campus (see
http://www.grs.unsw.edu.au/futurestudents/visit.html) to meet our
team, discuss projects, and see the Kensington campus.

The application deadline for scholarships at UNSW will be
October 31, 2009. However, potential applicants must discuss
possible PhD projects with their supervisors well before this
deadline, and are encouraged to contact us before the end of
September.