INTER-UNIVERSITY CENTRE FOR
ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS, PUNE
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR RADIO
ASTROPHYSICS, PUNE
IUCAA-NCRA ADMISSION TEST
[INAT] – 2013
NAT – 2013
IUCAA - NCRA ADMISSION TEST
2013-2014
For a
Research Scholarship towards a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Physics
Applications
are invited from highly motivated students for a research scholarship to do a
Ph.D. at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA),
Pune (an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission), or the
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune of the Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research (TIFR).
Prospective
applicants need to complete their M.Sc, Int. M.Sc. (in Physics, Electronics,
Astronomy or Applied Mathematics), or B.EV B.TechV M.E./ M.Tech. (in any
branch) by August 2014 with 55% marks or more. Candidates with B.Sc. degree (in
one of the above fields) are eligible for pre-selection for a Ph.D. at IUCAA or
an integrated Ph.D. at NCRA.
Candidates
should apply online at www.ncra.tifr.res.in/inat.
More details, including information for walk-in candidates, are also provided
at the same URL. The last date for submission of applications is September 1,
2013.
The
selection for the research fellowship will be through a written test on
December 30, 2013 and two interviews on December 30 and/or December 31, 2013,
both to be held at NCRA, Pune.
Inter-University
Centre for Astronomy And Astrophysics (IUCAA)
(An
autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission) Post Bag 4,
Ganeshkhind, Pune University Campus, Pune 411 007, India.
NCRA
• 11F R
National
Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)
Tata
Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Post Bag 3, Ganeshkhind, Pune
University Campus. Pune 411 007, India.
Tel: +91 20 2571 9000 | Fax: +91 20 2569 2149
INAT-2013
IUCAA and
NCRA-TIFR:
The
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune (an
autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission), and the National
Centre for Radio Astrophysics of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
(NCRA-TIFR), Pune, are two leading centres of research in a wide range of areas
in Physics, and Astronomy and Astrophysics. IUCAA and NCRA-TIFR are located on
neighbouring campuses in the Pune University Campus.
IUCAA
offers challenging opportunities to young researchers in theory, observation,
and instrumentation in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Recently, IUCAA has acquired
a share in the 10-m Southern African Large Telescope; it also operates the
IUCAA Girawali Observatory with a 2-m optical telescope. Both these telescopes
have imaging, spectroscopic and polarimetric capabilities. IUCAA also has a
high-performance computational facility and a good library.
NCRA-TIFR
offers exciting opportunities for research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, and
instrumentation, with an emphasis on Radio Astronomy. NCRA-TIFR has built and
operates the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, which is located near Pune, and
is the biggest and most powerful radio telescope in the world at low radio
frequencies. NCRA-TIFR also operates the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT), which is
located near Udhagamandalam. Both GMRT and ORT have yielded several significant
discoveries. NCRA-TIFR has modern computing facilities and an excellent
library.
IUCAA-NCRA
Admission Test (INAT-2013):
The
IUCAA-NCRA Admission Test (INAT-2013) is being conducted to select candidates
for a research scholarship towards a Ph.D. at either IUCAA or NCRA-TIFR.
Eligibility
Applications
are invited from students who expect to complete their M.Sc., Integrated M.Sc.
or B.E./B.Tech./M.E./M.Tech. degrees by August 2014 with 55% marks or more. In
addition, talented final-year B.Sc., 1st year M.Sc., 4th year Integrated M.Sc.
and 2nd/3rd year B.E./B.Tech. students may also apply to be PRE-SELECTED for a
research scholarship towards a Ph.D. at IUCAA for Physics, or Astronomy and
Astrophysics. Students in any branch of the B.E., B.Tech., M.E. or M.Tech.
degrees, or in the Physics, Electronics, Astronomy or Applied Mathematics
branches of the B.Sc. or M.Sc. degrees, are eligible to apply for INAT-2013.
Students who have already completed any of the above degrees are also eligible.
Students
in the final year of the B.Sc. (in the above branches) or who have completed
their B.Sc. degree may also apply for selection to NCRA's integrated Ph.D.
programme. Such students would attend one year of courses (taught in
collaboration with IISER-Pune) before joining the IUCAA-NCRA graduate school.
Selection
Procedure:
We
are looking for highly motivated students with a consistently good academic
record. While we strongly encourage students from engineering backgrounds to
apply for INAT-2013, we emphasize that we are looking for students who are
interested in carrying out doctoral research in Physics, or Astronomy and
Astrophysics. We hence expect prospective candidates to have a good
understanding of basic Physics.
Based
on the applications and referee assessments, a subset of the candidates will be
short-listed and invited to take the written test, to be held in Pune on
Monday, December 30, 2013. Candidates with 55% or more marks in the qualifying
examination may walk-in for the written test by producing a valid photo
identification and a copy of their most recent marksheet. They should report at
the Chandrasekhar Auditorium, IUCAA by 9:00 a.m. for verification of these
documents, to ensure that there are no logistical problems. The final selection
to the research scholarship will be based on the results of the written test
(on Monday, December 30, 2013) and two interviews (on Monday, December 30,
and/or Tuesday, December 31, 2013), both to be held in Pune. Note that, for
both IUCAA and NCRA-TIFR, the selection through INAT is in addition to the
selection through the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST).
Nature of the
Written Test:
The
test will be of TWO hours duration. The question paper will have two parts, A
and B. Part A will contain twenty objective-type questions on basic
Mathematics, Physics and Electronics. Part B will contain another twenty
objective-type questions from advanced Physics, Mathematics and
Electronics/Engineering. For each question, candidates will have to identify
and mark the correct answer from the given four answers. For a correct answer,
there will be +3 (plus three) marks, and for a wrong answer, there will be -1
(minus one) mark. Based on their performance in the written test, a limited
number of candidates will be invited for two interviews, which will be
conducted on December 30 and/or 31, 2011. The final selection will be based on
the scores in the written test and interviews. Candidates selected by either
IUCAA or NCRA are expected to join in August 2014 (except for pre-selected
candidates), after satisfactory completion of their qualifying examination.
Travel and Stay:
Outstation
candidates will be paid one and one-third times the train/bus fare by
second-class sleeper (NOT air-conditioned) from their place of residence (as
given in the INAT-2013 Application Form) to Pune and back by the shortest
route, as well as a halting allowance (as per the prevailing rules) for each
day of stay for the interviews. Outstation walk-in candidates who are
shortlisted for the interviews will also be paid travel support as above.
Limited
accommodation, restricted to candidates who will appear for the written
Admission Test, may be available on the IUCAA and NCRA-TIFR campuses at a
nominal charge. Those who wish to avail of this accommodation should send an
e-mail request to the Co-ordinator, INAT-2013, at the e-mail address
inat@ncra.tifr.res.in , before December 1, 2013.
Accompanying
persons will have to find accommodation elsewhere; a list of lodges and hotels
located close to IUCAA and NCRA-TIFR is given here, with approximate charges.
Candidates (and accompanying persons) may have meals on payment in the IUCAA or
NCRA-TIFR canteens on the days of the written test and interviews.
The
best mode of transport between IUCAA or NCRA-TIFR and the Pune railway station
or bus stand is autorickshaw. The fare is as per the tariff card with the
driver. During the day, the autorickshaw fare from Pune railway station to
IUCAA or NCRA-TIFR will be about Rs. 100/-.
What to bring
(and what NOT to bring) :
All
the candidates who are invited to take the IUCAA-NCRA Admission Test should
bring the Admit Letter with them. For the written test, the candidates should
bring a pen, a pencil (HB), an eraser, and a simple mathematical calculator. At
the time of interviews, the candidates are requested to bring all original mark
sheets (starting from Class X) and any other relevant certificates. Mobile
phones, digital diaries, laptops, etc. are NOT allowed in the test and
interview halls.
Important Dates
for INAT-2013:
Last
date to apply online: 1st September 2013
The
Admission (written) test will be held on:
December 30, 2013, at 9 am
Venue:
Chandrasekhar Auditorium, IUCAA, Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune
411007, Maharashtra
Short-listed
candidates will be interviewed on:
December 30 and 31, 2013, at NCRA-TIFR.
For
details, logon to the website link:
