Australian Gemini Undergraduate Summer Studentships

We will begin accepting applications for the 2013/14 program in early-August 2013.

Introduction
Details of the Studentships
About Gemini South
How to apply
Past recipients
AGUSS blog
Other Astronomy Studentships in Australia

Questions?
Return to AusGO Home Page

Introduction

The twin Gemini telescopes are the among the most powerful optical/infra-red telescopes in the world. Australia is a partner in these telescopes, together with the USA, UK (prior to 2013), Canada, Argentina and Brazil. Australian involvement in the Gemini Observatory is managed by the Australian Gemini Office, hosted by the Australian Astronomical Observatory. Funding for the Australian Gemini Undergraduate Summer Studentships (AGUSS) scheme is provided by Astronomy Australia Ltd. (AAL) and the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE).

We invite applications from Australian undergraduate students who would like to carry out a 10 week research project at the Gemini South observatory, located in the north of Chile. Students will carry out a project using the Gemini South telescope, under the supervision of Gemini South researchers. The Australian Gemini office will pay the return airfare from Australia to the town of La Serena, Chile, and provide a stipend of ~A$690 per week (gross, plus superannuation). We will also provide medical insurance (though not comprehensive travel insurance) while in Chile.

Details of the Studentships

It is expected that two studentships will be offered for the summer of 2012/13. They will last for ten weeks, from early-December until mid-February. They are open to undergraduate students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled at an Australian university who have completed at least two years of an undergraduate degree in Physics, Maths, Astronomy or Engineering. AGUSS students will be temporarily appointed to the Australian Public Service and travel on an Official Passport, and must receive a security clearance.

In addition to carrying out a research project, the students may participate in a lecture course and social activities offered at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, jointly with a group of US and Chilean summer scholars. The students will spend a few nights each assisting with observations at the Gemini South telescope, and also visit the 6.5m Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory, on which Australian astronomers also have some observing time.

About Gemini South

The Gemini South telescope is located on the mountain of Cerro Pachon, in the Chilean Andes. The observatory is headquartered in the nearby city of La Serena. The observatory will arrange accomodation for the students, usually within the observatory compound.

Gemini Observatory Web Page

Australian Gemini Office Web Page

How to Apply

Applications for the 2013/14 AGUSS program will open in early-August 2013, with a closing date of Friday 30 August 2013. Details on how to apply will be posted then.

Past recipients

Previous AGUSS recipients are listed here. Some have kindly provided a few words and pictures of their experiences, which you can view by clicking on their names.

2012/13: Stephanie Pointon (University of Adelaide); Benjamin Prout (Australian National University).
2011/12: Joseph Callingham (University of Sydney); Aina Musaeva (University of Sydney).
2010/11: Belinda Nicholson (U. Melbourne); Steven Saffi (U. Adelaide).
2009/10: Courtney Jones (U. Tasmania); Daniel Burdett (U. Adelaide).
2008/09: Sophie Underwood (U. Adelaide); David Palamara (Monash University).
2007/08: Emily Craven (U. Adelaide); Jacinta Delhaize (U. Western Australia); Richard Linossi (Monash University).
2006/07: Peter Jensen (U. Queensland); Simon Murphy (Australian National University); Lisa Torlina (U. Sydney).

Here is a photo of some past AGUSS recipients assembled at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Australia held in July 2009 in Melbourne. Left to right are AGUSS Coordinator Dr Stuart Ryder, David Palamara, Richard Linossi, Jacinta Delhaize, Simon Murphy, and Peter Jensen. Photo courtesy of Jacinta Delhaize.

In January 2009, AGUSS students David Palamara (left of centre) and Sophie Underwood (right of centre) were joined by Australian Gemini Scientist Dr Stuart Ryder (far left) and Deputy Gemini Scientist Dr Christopher Onken (far right) for a live video link-up from the Gemini South headquarters in La Serena to the official launch of the International Year of Astronomy at Questacon in Canberra.

Other Astronomy Studentships in Australasia

AGUSS is an extremely competitive scheme - we typically receive 10 times more applications than there are studentships. For those who miss out, there are a number of similar programs operated by institutions throughout Australasia you may wish to consider, a separate list of which can be found here.

Questions?

If you have any queries about the studentship scheme before applying, then please feel free to contact the program supervisor Stuart Ryder by e-mail (sdr -@- aao.gov.au), or by phone at (02) 9372-4843.

Australian Gemini Office, ausgo -@- aao.gov.au