Helena Kluyver Visitor Programme

Our programme is named after Helena Kluyver (1909 – 2001), who was one of the first female astronomers to work in the Netherlands. From 1931 to 1980, she worked at Leiden Observatory in a variety of areas in theoretical astrophysics, ranging from Cepheid variable stars to the orbits of comets and the motion of stars in stellar clusters.

Applications for the Helena Kluyver are currently closed. The information below is for reference only. We intend to re-open applications in the near future. For more information, please contact the Helena Kluyver programme coordinator at helenakluyver@astron.nl.

If you are interested in applying for the programme, please first contact the scientist(s) or engineer(s) at ASTRON/JIVE that you would like to collaborate with. With them, you should outline a research plan describing the details of the project you will work on during your visit.

The programme supports visit durations from three weeks up to three months. Candidates of any nationality are eligible to be considered for the programme. Though recent PhD graduates are eligible to apply, priority will be given to advanced-career researchers.

To apply, please send an email to helenakluyver@astron.nl, with the following information:

• your CV and publication list
• the proposed dates of your visit
• the names of your collaborator(s) within ASTRON/JIVE
• a one-page research proposal outlining the plans and goals for your visit
• a budget request – assistance for estimating the local expenses will be provided

If you are a recent PhD graduate with less than three years postdoctoral experience, you should also send two letters of reference.

There are no set deadlines for the application, but the information should be available at least two months prior to your intended visit. The programme coordinators will evaluate your proposal and inform you about the decision as soon as possible.

Helena Kluyver visitors stay either in the ASTRON guest house next to the institute or in a hotel/apartment near the institute. Local transportation can be provided in the form of a bicycle. The visitor will be provided with office space and access to computer facilities at the institute during their stay. If you have any specific computing needs, please state this clearly in your research proposal.
  
In many cases, citizens of non-EU countries must hold a valid visa to enter the country. For more information about visas, please contact HR@astron.nl before you plan your visit. In addition, make sure you have an international or European health insurance, as grants for the visitor program do not cover such costs.

If you have any questions about the Helena Kluyver visitor programme, you can contact us at helenakluyver@astron.nl.