Opportunity for Early Career Scientists to Participate in the Astrobiology Grand Tour to Western Australia
Application Deadline: December 1, 2012
The NAI is accepting applications from early career astrobiologists (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows or others within 5 years of their Ph.D) to participate in an 11-day tour of astrobiology-relevant field sites in Western Australia in June 2013. Included will be the extant stromatolites of Shark Bay, the banded iron formations and iron ore mines of the Hamersley Basin, the putatively cyanobacterial stromatolites of the 2.7 Ga Fortescue Group, and the 3.35-3.49 Ga fossiliferous and other units of the Pilbara Craton with what is arguably the oldest convincing evidence of life on Earth.
The tour, from June 18 to June 28, 2013, will be led by Professor Malcolm Walter of the University of New South Wales, the founding director of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology (ACA). The trip is designed for scientists interested in the earliest life on Earth and early Earth environments. Additional information is available at http://aca.unsw.edu.au/node/78
The NAI will provide partial support for up to five individuals, including 1/2 of the tour cost, plus airfare from the US to Perth and from Port Hedland to the US, as well as up to 2 additional days lodging and per diem. Participants will be responsible for reserving a place on the tour, including a $400 deposit and the remaining 1/2 of the tour cost.
Applicants should provide:
* a short description of how participation in this trip will contribute to your research or training in astrobiology
* a letter of support from your advisor/principal investigator Applications are due by December 1, 2012 to Dr. Edward Goolish, Deputy Director of the NAI, [email protected].
