Eligible candidates are invited to apply for the Gruber Fellowship 2020, a programme created by The Gruber Foundation (TGF) with the aim of supporting young astronomers at the beginning of their research careers, and thus promoting the science of cosmology and other branches of astronomy.

The IAU recognises the Gruber Fellowship as a valuable contribution to astronomy research and shares the desire of TGF to give this distinction the highest possible standing in the international scientific community. The IAU collaborates with TGF in the nomination of candidates and the selection of recipients.

TGF provides an amount of $50 000 (US) for fellowships every year, with the next one to be awarded in 2020. This amount is intended as a research grant to cover travel, subsistence and research expenses supplementing a postdoctoral appointment at a host institution, starting no later than 1 October of the award year. The fellowship will be awarded to an extremely promising, early-career astrophysicist, working in any field of astrophysics, be it theoretical, observational or experimental, and may be held in conjunction with any other fellowship or award. The jury may decide to split the grant between two equally promising candidates.

Applicants in the final months of their PhD who have already received a contract offer for a postdoctoral position, and postdocs in their first year of appointment are encouraged to apply. In the case of applicants at the PhD level, the PhD must have been awarded by the start of the fellowship, i.e. no later than 1 October of the award year.

There are no limitations on nationality, but, while the scientific quality of the application is the prime criterion, preference will be given to applicants from countries in difficult economic situations. The host institute for the postdoctoral appointment must be a centre of excellence in the applicant's field of research and be located in a country different from that where the PhD was awarded, or, in the case of a second postdoc, different from where the first postdoc contract is being completed.

While the IAU Secretariat will administer the grant, the host institute should agree to offer basic research facilities, since the TGF grant is primarily intended to cover travel and living expenses during research periods outside the host institute, as well as conference attendance and specific research expenses during the postdoctoral appointment. The grant will be awarded directly to the selected applicant(s). 

Upon agreement between the host institute and the IAU General Secretary, a small part of the grant may also be used to complement the basic salary, on the condition that the host institute covers the salary overheads (social benefits, salary and income taxes, personal insurance, etc.) and all other similar legal obligations valid in the country where the host institute is located, so that the recipient should be able to use  the full amount of the fellowship freely. 

Information on how to apply for the TGF Fellowship 2020 can be found here, and applications should reach the IAU General Secretary no later than 31 March 2020, by email to IAU_GS_2018@iap.fr as attached pdf files (preferably in a single merged file). Applications received after this date will not be considered.

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The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 13 500 professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Contacts

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 320 06 761
Cell: +49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars@eso.org