SAO Predoctoral Program

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Predoctoral Program enables qualified graduate students from external universities to carry out doctoral thesis research under the guidance of SAO scientists at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. Students remain under the supervision of their home institution thesis advisors.

The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) is a joint institution connecting the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and the Harvard College Observatory (HCO). The CfA is a diverse astrophysical institution at which more than 800 staff and students are engaged in a broad program of research and education in astronomy, astrophysics, and earth and space sciences. The CfA is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. Our research covers theoretical astrophysics, observational ground and space-based astronomy, engineering and technology development, and education. The research objectives of the CfA are carried out primarily with the support of government, Smithsonian Institution, and Harvard funds, with additional philanthropic support. At the CfA, the next generation of scientific leaders are being trained and mentored through a broad range of undergraduate and graduate student programs, postdoctoral positions and fellowships.

Prerequisites

The SAO Predoctoral Program is designed for graduate students wishing to carry out all or part of their thesis research at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Therefore, applicants must have completed preliminary coursework and examinations prior to the start of the SAO Predoctoral Program. Applicants must gain approval of their home university department head.

Selecting an Advisor

Applicants should initiate a discussion about the suitability of a predoctoral sponsorship with an SAO scientist.  A representative list of current projects can be found at this link.  Feel free to contact these scientists, or other SAO scientists, directly to inquire about these opportunities and to reach out to any other SAO scientist as appropriate.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST EITHER HAVE FUNDING FROM THEIR HOME INSTITUTION OR OBTAIN FUNDING DIRECTLY FROM THEIR SAO ADVISOR.

Length of the Award

The SAO Predoctoral Fellowship is awarded for a period of six months or more depending on the project. It is possible to renew or extend a SAO Predoctoral Fellowship Award based on the availability of funding, satisfactory progress, and the agreement of both the home institution advisor and the SAO advisor. Appointments of longer than two years (total) are unusual and are granted only under exceptional circumstances.

A remote component for up to three months may be granted for extenuating circumstances and must comply with policies set by the Smithsonian Institution.  Please contact the Predoctoral program directly for guidance.

Start Date

The applicant must submit application material three months before he/she intends to begin their appointment to ensure sufficient time for processing. Applications are accepted twice a year (deadlines May 1 and November 1) for a planned start-date within the following year.

Compensation

Stipends for the current academic year are matched to the Harvard Astronomy Department support for graduate students which is adjusted annually on July 1. Funds may also be available for relocation, travel, and other expenses. Predoctoral Fellows are required to have health insurance and are eligible for the SAO group plan (currently Harvard Pilgrim Health Care) if their funding comes through SAO. Fellows who are self-funded may not be eligible. If the awardee has private insurance the sponsoring SAO advisor can fund a reimbursement up to the current HPHC rates. Some conditions apply. Outside dental plans cannot be reimbursed.

Application Procedure

The application steps are outlined below: 

1. Create a SOLAA Account

Applications for the Predoctoral program are now processed through the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointments system (SOLAA). Once an applicant and advisor have agreed to work together the applicant must create a SOLAA account and pass the email address associated with the account to their advisor.

2. Nomination

The applicant is then nominated to the CfA/SAO Predoctoral Fellowship in SOLAA.  SOLAA will send out an automated email notifying the applicant and inviting them to apply.

 

3. Submitting the Application

The applicant must log on to SOLAA and apply for the position. 

The applicant should provide the contact details for 3 referees and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Summary of previous & current research  (limited to three pages including references and figures)
• Research proposal (limited to three pages including references and figures)

In addition to the SOLAA application steps, the applicant will need to arrange for two further documents to be sent to the Predoc program coordinator  at predoc@cfa.harvard.edu.

• Department Head Approval letter

 In order to be eligible for an SAO Predoctoral Fellowship applicants must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program. The applicant is also responsible for communicating to the Department Head of their home institution that a SAO Predoctoral Research Review Committee (which includes the SAO Advisor) will monitor and support their research activities. The message must therefore include the following:

• A statement that the student is enrolled as a full time graduate student.
• Approval of the student's plan to pursue doctoral research at the SAO.
• Template (Word)
• Template (PDF)
• An official transcript should be sent by the applicant’s current institution's registrar, or equivalent authority, to the SAO Predoctoral Program Director by email at predoc@cfa.harvard.edu or by mail at the address:

Dr. James F. Babb
SAO Predoctoral Program Director
60 Garden Street, MS-14
Cambridge, MA 02138 

If records are not in English, original records must be submitted with certified English translations. All translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records.

4. Appointment & Acceptance

Once the application is reviewed, the applicant will receive a SOLAA email notifying them that they have been appointed to the position. The applicant must log on to SOLAA and accept the appointment. 

5. Preparing to Arrive

The advisor and SAO program administrators will be in touch to guide students through the steps to get set up and settled in Cambridge.

Open to all qualified applicants who are English-speaking citizens of all nations.

The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Fellowships do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, gender stereotyping, pregnancy, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, parental status, or marital status of any applicant.

Requests for Information

Requests for additional information on application procedures and supporting documents should be addressed to: predoc@cfa.harvard.edu.