How to be an Astronomer.pdf
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How to become an Astronomer ? (Career in A & A) Prof. T. Padmanabhan How and where can I start career in A & A? Careers in Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) can be broadly divided as Theoretical or Observational though, in order to make significant contribution to the subject you have to be good at both. Theoretical research career in A & A typically involves doing a Masters in physics, or Bachelors in Engineering or Technology with thorough basic knowlegege in physics and mathematics, joining a suitable institution or university for a Ph.D. programme in A & A, following it up with one or two postdoctoral positions and finally obtaining a permanent job. Among the leading institutes in this country Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore (IIA), IndianInstitute of Science, Bangalore (IISc), National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune (NCRATIFR), InterUniversity Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune (IUCAA), Physical Research Laboratory, Ahamedabad (PRL), Raman Research Institute, Bangalore (RRI) and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai (TIFR) have graduate students programmes in A & A leading to a Ph.D. Institutions like HarishChandra Research Institute, Allahbad (HRI) and The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai (IMSc) are actively expanding into this area and will certainly encourage theoretical research in A & A. There are also several universities, which have faculty members working on A & A, not to mention the Indian of Institute(s) of Technology. On the observational side, the scope is somewhat wider because even students with engineering degree (or knowledge of computer systems and electronics) are also encouraged to apply for the graduate student's programme in many of the above places. For example, IUCAA takes B.E. and B.Tech students for its graduate school and allows them to do an M.Sc. by research prior to doing a Ph.D. The scope for experimental astronomy in this country is somewhat limited compared to theory, but this situation is likely to change within the next 5 years or so. The key point to remember is that A & A is a branch of physics and you need to have a strong foundation in physics and mathematics in order to have a successful career in A & A. Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) For Ph.D. Programmes in Physics / Mathematics / Theoretical Computer Science What about books and syllabus of A & A? There is no single book or syllabus in A & A which a student is expected to read and follow. In fact, most institutions will examine you on your physics and mathematics background and will admit you to the graduate school even if you know nothing of A & A.This is necessary because our M.Sc. courses in physics do not
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Transcript of How to be an Astronomer.pdf
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HowtobecomeanAstronomer?(CareerinA&A)
Prof.T.Padmanabhan
HowandwherecanIstartcareerinA&A?
CareersinAstronomy&Astrophysics(A&A)canbebroadlydividedasTheoreticalorObservationalthough,inordertomakesignificantcontributiontothesubjectyouhavetobegoodatboth.
TheoreticalresearchcareerinA&AtypicallyinvolvesdoingaMastersinphysics,orBachelorsinEngineeringorTechnologywiththoroughbasicknowlegegeinphysicsandmathematics,joiningasuitableinstitutionoruniversityforaPh.D.programmeinA&A,followingitupwithoneortwopostdoctoralpositionsandfinallyobtainingapermanentjob.
Amongtheleadinginstitutesinthiscountry
IndianInstituteofAstrophysics,Bangalore(IIA),IndianInstituteofScience,Bangalore(IISc),NationalCentreforRadioAstrophysics,Pune(NCRATIFR),InterUniversityCentreforAstronomyandAstrophysics,Pune(IUCAA),PhysicalResearchLaboratory,Ahamedabad(PRL),RamanResearchInstitute,Bangalore(RRI)andTataInstituteofFundamentalResearch,Mumbai(TIFR)
havegraduatestudentsprogrammesinA&AleadingtoaPh.D.
Institutionslike
HarishChandraResearchInstitute,Allahbad(HRI)andTheInstituteofMathematicalSciences,Chennai(IMSc)
areactivelyexpandingintothisareaandwillcertainlyencouragetheoreticalresearchinA&A.
Therearealsoseveraluniversities,whichhavefacultymembersworkingonA&A,nottomentiontheIndianofInstitute(s)ofTechnology.
On the observational side, the scope is somewhat wider because even students with engineering degree (orknowledgeofcomputersystemsandelectronics)arealsoencouragedtoapplyforthegraduatestudent'sprogrammeinmanyoftheaboveplaces.Forexample,IUCAAtakesB.E.andB.TechstudentsforitsgraduateschoolandallowsthemtodoanM.Sc.byresearchpriortodoingaPh.D.
Thescopeforexperimentalastronomyinthiscountryissomewhatlimitedcomparedtotheory,butthissituationislikelytochangewithinthenext5yearsorso.
Thekeypoint toremember is thatA&A isabranchofphysicsandyouneed tohaveastrong foundation inphysicsandmathematicsinordertohaveasuccessfulcareerinA&A.
JointEntranceScreeningTest(JEST)ForPh.D.ProgrammesinPhysics/Mathematics/TheoreticalComputerScience
WhataboutbooksandsyllabusofA&A?
ThereisnosinglebookorsyllabusinA&Awhichastudentisexpectedtoreadandfollow.
Infact,mostinstitutionswillexamineyouonyourphysicsandmathematicsbackgroundandwilladmityoutothegraduateschoolevenifyouknownothingofA&A.ThisisnecessarybecauseourM.Sc.coursesinphysicsdonot
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giveadequateemphasistoA&Acomparedto,forexample,solidstatephysicsornuclearphysics.
Thissituationmaychangeoverthenextdecadeorsobutatpresent,itisenoughifyouconcentrateontheregularM.Sc.physicssyllabus.
WhatshouldIstudytopreparefortheexaminations?
The graduate school programme in most of the leading institutions expects you to be good at physics andmathematicswithanaptitudeandmotivationtodoresearch.
Thelatterisdifficulttodefinebutessentiallyitinvolvesanabilitytoapplyyourbasicknowledgetounfamiliarareasandcomeoutwithlogicallyconsistentconclusions.Inshort,youshouldbeabletothinkonyourownandshouldbeconfidentinusingthebasicprinciplesofphysicsandthetechniquesofmathematicswhichyouhavelearntinanyarea.
Inthebestinstitutes,theexaminationisdesignedinsuchawaythatnospecificpreparationisnecessaryorevenuseful.Theideaisnottorunamemorytestorinvestigateyourknowledgebasebuttoseehowgoodyouareinusingtheknowledgewhichyouposses.
Ofcoursethisistheidealsituation.Iftheexaminationisnotuptothemark,youmaybestraddledwithquestionswhichrequirememorizingofsomekeyformulas,etc.ThegeneraltechniqueofpreparationcanbesimilartothatyouwilladoptforJEEorGREorforanyothermultiplechoiceobjectivetypetest.
