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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AstroFIt2 (Astronomy Fellowships in Italy 2)

Teaser

Summary

INAF, the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics is proposing AstroFIt 2 in order to support transnational brain circulation of young researchers, by means of 18 Incoming Mobility 3-year fellowships to be issued in two calls, each of 9 fellows, to be carried out at the 17 INAF Research Centers across Italy. INAF promotes, performs and coordinates astrophysics research, also cooperates with universities and other national and international entities, and has approximately 1000 permanent staff, and more than 500 contractual scientific posts. INAF is internationally renowned for its excellent science and technology, and has prime responsibility in many international astrophysical programs. AstroFIt-2 thus gives young researchers experience, through working with international teams in highly relevant, world-class scientific and technological astrophysics projects. AstroFIt-2 has been built on the success and experience acquired by FP7 COFUND AstroFIt (GA 267251).

Work performed

The AstroFIt 2 website (http://www.astrofit2.inaf.it) is online since September 2015 (M1) and it includes a section completely dedicated to the fellows, with individual web pages set up, in which they can present their results and dissemination activities.

1st Call:
On September 18, 2015 the 1st AstroFIt 2 Call was published in the AstroFIt 2 website, widely disseminated on several websites and mailing lists. A dedicated email account (astrofit_info@inaf.it) was set up in order to answer questions from the applicants and a FAQ section was also foreseen in the website. Within the deadline of the call (November 18, 2015 - M3), 103 applications were received, confirming the great interest on the programme from the international astrophysical scientific community. 102 eligible applications have been evaluated by the appointed Selection Committee, composed by 7 internationally recognized experts in astrophysics, two of them not working in Italy. 36 candidates received a ranking above the threshold and their names are in the final ranked list published on March 21, 2016 (M7), within 4 months from the deadline for applications, on schedule as foreseen by the call for proposal. All applicants received an individual evaluation report written by the Selection Committee.
The recruitment procedure started promptly. The awarded fellows were given 45 days to accept the fellowship to be started within 6 months from the award.

The first fellow started on September 1, 2016, on month 13 as scheduled.
Two fellows resigned, respectively, after 2 and 10 months from the starting date of their fellowship and the remaining time of their fellowships will be awarded to the following candidate in the ranked list. They resigned in order to accept permanent positions and in both cases they are Italian researchers who moved to Italy for the AstroFIt 2 fellowship and will have the opportunity to continue their careers in Italy.

2nd Call:
On May 19, 2016 (M9) the 2nd AstroFIt 2 Call was published, one month in advance, in order to have the recruitment earlier and end the programme on the foreseen date. For the same reason the Board of the programme decided to shorten the time for the application procedure from 60 to 45 days, provided that on the basis of the 1st Call experience the number of application would have remained consistent. The deadline of the Call was therefore fixed to July 5, 2016 (M11). One (1) application, out of the 63 received, was declared ineligible. A new Selection Committee was appointed and a former fellow of the FP7 COFUND AstroFIt was included., At the end of the evaluation procedure, 56 candidates received a ranking above the threshold and their names are in the final ranked list published on November 4, 2016 (M15). All applicants also received their individual evaluation report.
The first fellow started on March 1, 2017 (M19).

The Board decided to postpone the date of the 1st Annual Meeting from M20 to M25 considering that the newly recruited fellows of the 2nd Call will also have the possibility to attend it. The Meeting was held as a dedicated session within the LXI Conference of the SocietÃ Astronomica Italiana (Italian Astronomical Society), thus allowing all participating AstroFIt 2 fellows to present their project to and get in contact with a wide astrophysics community.

Final results

The AstroFIt 2 project has proved to be successful in reaching and exploiting its main objectives:
â€¢ Brain circulation: young research fellows, of various nationalities, coming from different countries have the possibility to exploit their experience, get in contact with new research environments and groups, also proactively triggering, and paving the way to, new international collaborations, with positive outcome for the parties involved;
â€¢ Networking: the AstroFIt 2 fellows have also the possibility to widen their research network environment, at all levels: involvement in new scientific and technological programmes or activities, opening new horizons for their project(s), participation to new professional experience and activities;
â€¢ Access to data/facilities: becoming part of one or more INAF Research Centres, the AstroFIt 2 fellows will thoroughly benefit from the access to scientific data archive and analysis infrastructures, technological and laboratory facilities, ground-based and space-borne observatories, accessible by INAF scientists;
â€¢ Dissemination: the AstroFIt 2 fellows will have the possibility to be active part of all INAF dissemination and public outreach initiatives thus significantly widening the dissemination of the results of their projects.

AstroFIt 2 programme represents a great opportunity for the Italian Astrophysical Scientific Community to host experienced researcher who have worked at least two years outside Italy and can bring with her/him her/his extremely relevant resources in terms of knowledge and networking. At the same time fellows have the opportunity to work in lively and well known research centers participating to training sections and exchanges with other research teams. They are involved and fully integrated in INAF research activities having also the opportunity to experience large international collaborations and modern astrophysics infrastructures.They are inserted in all INAF communication means (general mailing lists and exploders, dedicated group info distribution systems, etc). In such a way they are continuously informed about training activities, workshops, grant opportunities as well as dissemination or outreach activities both at national and international level. Fellows have also full support from INAF Media office and staff, which will give them the opportunity to better disseminate their project outcomes and scientific activities.

Moreover each fellow receives a dedicated budget for travelling and research expenses, amounting to 6000 EUR/year. This amount allows them to freely invest on their project and future developments, collaborations and career.

In conformity with the principles of the Charter & Code the selection procedure of the two AstroFIt 2 calls have been transparent and smooth, demonstrating that is possible to include international participants in the Selection Committee, to respect the scheduled time for the evaluation of proposals and to give them an adequate period of time for accepting and starting the fellowship.