Work Experience at JBCA
The Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics (JBCA), is the astronomical research centre of the University of Manchester, and is one of the largest astrophysics groups in the country. The research interests of the JBCA span almost every area of astrophysics, from the Sun to the Big Bang and we are one of the world's most important centres for the technical development of radio telescopes and instrumentation. The JBCA is also responsible for the operation of the e-MERLIN and VLBI national facilities and the Lovell telescope; the operations centre for these facilities is at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire. The Observatory will also be the site of the new international project office for the Square Kilometre Array telescope.
We are occasionally able to take on school/A-Level students for short periods of work experience, based in our main research centre in the Alan Turing Building in the University of Manchester campus, or at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire.
The next work placement week will be 8th - 12th July 2013, based in the Alan Turing Building in Manchester. We will be able to accommodate up to four placement students. During the week students will learn more about the diverse range of activities which take place at JBCA. Examples of tasks students may be given include searching for new pulsars, analysing radio telescope data, helping out at the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre and attending introductory undergraduate lectures and research seminars. Students will also be expected to prepare and deliver a short scientific presentation based on their week's work.
These popular and extremely competitive placements are open to any student who is currently in year 12 (1st year of A-level). We regret that we are unable to consider applications from students in earlier years, or from students who will complete their A-level courses this year. We cannot consider applications for placements on alternative dates. If you would like to be considered for a placement during this week please send your CV and a short covering letter, explaining why you would like to work at JBCA, to admin@jb.man.ac.uk.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 5:00pm on Friday 15th March 2013. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 5th April.
Students will be expected to make their own way to and from work each day. We regret that we cannot organise accommodation for students who do not normally live locally. We hope to be able to include one day based at the Jodrell Bank Observatory site in Cheshire as part of the week's activities. Students will need to make their own way to and from the Observatory (or to Goostrey railway station) on that day.
Dr Myfanwy Lloyd February 2013