The Herzberg Instrument Science Fellowship is awarded to an outstanding recent doctoral graduate in astronomy, astrophysics or a closely related field with a strong interest in the development of instrumentation to tackle key outstanding problems in astronomy. Fellows conduct research in a stimulating, collegial environment within the NRC's Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre. The research centre comprises 2 sites in Canada: one is located at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO), in Victoria, British Columbia, and the other at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO), near Penticton, British Columbia. Fellows whose research interests align closest to optical or near-infrared technologies would be based in Victoria. Candidates whose interests align most closely to radio technologies would be based in Penticton.
The Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre has a rare combination of staff involved in astronomy research, instrumentation design and development, engineering, data science and observatory support. In 2021, the Herzberg Instrument Science Fellowship was created to leverage this environment. This fellowship helps develop researchers who will become the leaders needed to develop ambitious new instrumentation for cutting-edge astronomy research in the coming decades.
The Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre's instrumentation group is a leading developer of instrumentation for Canada's current and future ground- and space-based telescopes, from optical through to radio wavelengths. The research centre's multidisciplinary team has project managers and optical, electrical, mechanical and systems engineers as well as technicians, signal processing experts and astronomers. Current major activities include participating in the development of near-infrared spectroscopy for Gemini and adaptive optics systems for Gemini and the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) as well as involvement in correlator updates and central signal processing architectures for the SKA, ALMA, ngVLA and composite dish antenna designs for new observatories, including CHORD.
In addition to providing leadership and being involved in developing facility-class instruments, the research centre maintains a strong strategic R&D program specializing in adaptive optics, optical and near-infrared instrumentation, radio receivers, radio dishes and signal processing. This work is in addition to astronomical research activities undertaken by astronomers across the research centre in fields that span exoplanets, the outer Solar System, star and planet formation, near-field cosmology, galaxy evolution, survey astronomy and more.
Herzberg Instrument Science Fellows are highly motivated to engage in astronomical instrumentation and technology projects and would want to become principal investigators for the next generation of astronomical instruments and facilities. The Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre will provide them with the experience, support and professional development they need to help them develop in this role.
Travel
Every effort is made to ensure that Herzberg Instrument Science Fellows have the opportunity to present their work at national and international meetings and effectively engage in national and international collaborations. In addition, every effort is made to enable travel to telescopes on which fellows have been awarded observing time.
Events
The NRC frequently organizes meetings relevant to Canada's international partnerships. There are regular colloquium series with visiting speakers and an informal, internal science forum that showcases visiting and local speakers. Fellows help organize these colloquium series.
Community
The scientific atmosphere at the NRC is vibrant and collegial with staff ranging from recent hires to researchers emeriti. Fellows are eligible to mentor undergraduate and graduate students and are encouraged to participate in outreach programs within the community. This can include presentations and tours to visiting groups at DAO and DRAO, visits or lectures to local schools, museums or astronomy enthusiast clubs and interactions in their areas of scientific expertise with local and national news media.
Application period
Call for proposals is closed for 2024 and 2025.