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HQP Training of Postdoctoral Researchers
√ unique focus on people power rather than on facilities
√ gives Canada a large return in international impact and prestige
√ CITA has tapped a critical niche in a field where many years post PhD study is the norm
• researchers at their most productive
• many universities produce PhDs, few concentrate on post PhD
• relatively few non-contract-oriented positions in other countries (changing)
• gives high visibility: CITA in the market every year
√ NSERC core funding seminal in assembling the critical mass of very high quality young RAs
√ Exceptional Leverage
• junior 2 – 3 (PDFs) 6 ► 6
• senior 3 - 5 year (SRAs) 2 ► 2
• National Fellows (NFs) across Canada (4, half-supported ► 5)
• 6 permanent CITA faculty at the UofT, possibly a 7th through a CRC
• anchors the CIAR Cosmology and Gravity Program
• Fellows supported by portable awards (PFs ~ 2), NSERCs, NSF Internationals – need subsidies to regularize salary
• Fellows supported by operating/project grants, awards to faculty
√ DRAWING POWER of CITA
• breadth of the faculty: cosmology (early to late), ISM, stars (interior and formation), planet (solar and extrasolar), high energy astrophysics, black holes, compact objects, GR
• post - CITA track record: 67% of CITA “alumni” are in tenure or tenure - track positions in Canada, the US, England, Scotland, France, Australia, India, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Mexico and Spain. Important for recruitment of Canada’s future faculty members.
• a high level atmosphere with a positive friendly Canadian twist
• respond in a timely collaborative way to “hot” fields of research with critical mass
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