Herzberg Instrument Science Fellowship – frequently asked questions

We are seeking early career researchers who are driven by research excellence and demonstrate strong potential and readiness for an independen research opportunity. Specific selection criteria can be found on the job poster.

The NRC operates its programs at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO) and the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) to provide, and to support, astronomy infrastructure used by Canadian university researchers and their students. To meet those ends, we are heavily involved in international programs. We are looking for people who will do excellent science in our "national laboratory" environment, in particular those interested in developing instruments.

A key attribute of a Herzberg Instrument Science Fellow is being able to interact significantly with the scientific staff. Astronomy staff research focuses on observational astrophysics with specific interests in galaxies, large-scale structure, stellar populations, stars, star formation, the interstellar medium, and the minor bodies of the solar system.

Yes. Preference is given to Canadians and Permanen Residents of Canada.

In Canada, Employment and Social Developmen Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada each play a role in processing work visas. The NRC's Human Resources Branch  has experience in these matters, and will assist you in the process of obtaining appropriate employment authorization.

We will do our best to provide information to applicants via e-mail, at appropriate points in the process, to keep them informed as to their status.

If you haven't heard from us and would like to know about your application status, please e-mail HRQuestionsRH_CG1@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca and we will provide the information we can at that time.

We can read most standard file formats: MS Word, rich-tex format (.rtf), ASCII text (.txt), portable document format (.pdf), and postscript (.ps).

We cannot guarantee that late applications will receive full consideration. Please ensure that your application materials and letters of reference reach us by the deadline.

Yes: interactions with local students, faculty and postdocs are welcome and encouraged, and often result in fruitful collaborations tha continue for many years.

Each year the NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre hires a number of top undergraduate students from Canadian universities as part of the NRC's co-operative education program. Herzberg Instrument Science Fellows may propose to supervise or co-supervise such students to work with them on a research project. Opportunities for staff to request a student normally arise three times per year, with the number of students hired at any given time depending upon funds available. Many Fellows (and their students) have gained valuable experience through this program.

Applicants must have received their Ph.D. no more than 5 years before assuming the Fellowship.

Many people have gained post-doctoral experience at the NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre in the past decades through a variety of programs. The NRC welcomes and benefits enormously from the presence of active individuals interested in participating in the scientific and technical research in Penticton, including those who wish to apply to other organizations for independent funding to work with the research centre staff. Over the years, many have come with initial support from international organizations or programs in their home country.

Staff seeking astronomers with skills to work with them on a particular project, e.g., one of the instrumentation development programs, often review Herzberg Instrument Science Fellowship applications. Enquiries are welcome from those who are preparing to seek external funding or who are interested in working on one of the specific projects underway at either the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, located in Victoria, B.C., or the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, located near Penticton, B.C.

The Herzberg Instrument Science Fellowship honours Dr. Gerhard Herzberg (1904-1999), the namesake of our Research Centre. Dr. Herzberg had a long career at NRC in Ottawa studying the internal structure and geometries of molecules at the Spectroscopy Laboratory he founded. Dr. Herzberg won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1971 in part for his detection of free radicals like CH2 but he maintained a lifelong interest in astronomy. The NRC established a research institute in 1975 to coordinate Canada's domestic and international astronomy infrastructure, naming it after Herzberg. The Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre carries on this legacy to this day.

If you have not found the answer to your question on this web site, please contact us at HRQuestionsRH_CG1@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.