2008 IRAP Phd Program announcement

INTERNATIONAL RELATIVISTIC ASTROPHYSICS PHD PROGRAM (IRAP) ANNOUNCEMENT

2008-2011 3 YEAR CYCLE

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  August 31, 2008

10 positions will be available, 7 with fellowship support.
The application form, 2008 poster, faculty and courses can be found on the
IRAP web page:

http://www.icranet.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=662

DESCRIPTION:

The field of relativistic astrophysics has become one of the fastest
progressing fields in science. This is due to the coordinated interaction of
a vast number of international projects of observations and experimental
facilities in space, on the ground, underground, at the polar ice caps, and
in the deep oceans. The fortunate circumstance occurs that considerable
support is lent to this endeavor by a powerful theoretical framework based 
on Einstein's theory of general relativity and relativistic quantum field
theories. 

Many international collaborations have been dedicated to the development of
new experimental and observational facilities. Since 1995, the International
Center for Relativistic Astrophysics in Rome (ICRA) initiated an
International Network of Centers in the field of Relativistic Astrophysics
(ICRANet) dedicated to foster international collaboration in the theoretical
field of Relativistic Astrophysics. Since 2005 ICRANet has acquired the
status of an International Organization with a coordinating Center in
Pescara (Italy). 

ICRANet combines the research powers of leading institutions in the
Americas, Asia and Europe. Prof. Remo Ruffini is the ICRANet Director,
Prof. Fang Li Zhi is the President of the Board and Prof. Riccardo Giacconi 
is the Chairman of the Scientific Committee. 

The International Relativistic Astrophysics Ph.D. Program (IRAP PhD) is the
academic branch of ICRANet, created with the goal of training a select
number of highly qualified Ph.D. students in this exciting field of
research. So far, the participating institutions are: ETH Zurich, Freie
Universität Berlin, Università di Ferrara, Università di Roma 'La Sapienza',
Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, Université de Savoie. These six 
Universities jointly deliver the Ph.D. The Institut des Hautes Etudes
Scientifiques and the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur also participate. Each
cycle lasts three years. The courses and related scientific activities take
place in all participating institutions. They cover a broad range of
scientific topics including the mathematical and geometrical structure of
space-time, relativistic field theories of fundamental interactions both at
the classical and quantum levels, astronomical and astrophysical
observational techniques, and the associated phenomenological and
theoretical descriptions. 

This is the announcement of the seventh IRAP Ph.D. cycle. In addition to the
courses and research the graduate school will take part in a series of
seminars and workshops including the Italian-Korean Meetings, the
Italian-Chinese Meetings and the Stuckelberg Meetings in Pescara and at the 
University of Rome 'La Sapienza', the set of meetings celebrating the 2009
Year of Astronomy 'The Stars, the Galaxy, the Cosmos for General Relativity', 
which includes the Bego Meetings in Nice, the Sobral Meeting in
Brazil, the XII Marcel Grossmann Meeting in Paris, the Xu Guang-Qi Meeting
in Shanghai. Distinguished visitors will present lectures including Prof.
David Arnett, Prof. Massimo Della Valle, Prof. Walter Greiner, Prof. Roy
Kerr, and Prof. Gerard 't Hooft. 



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