The school is aimed at PhD students in Astronomy, Physics and Engineering but it is open also to young post-doc and early-career researchers. The aim of the school is to contribute to their qualification by presenting a broad view of the most cutting-edge technologies used to design and develop ground-based astronomical instrumentation in the optical and radio domain.
It is organised by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) in collaboration with Italian industries involved in the development of major research infrastructures.
The topics presented at the school are:
- Adaptive Optics,
- Controls,
- Mechanical and optical manufacturing,
- Photonics,
- Precision Metrology,
- Quantum Computing,
- Antennas, Receivers and Electronics for radio telescopes.
In addition to face-to-face lectures, hands-on activities are also foreseen.
A meeting with representatives of high-tech industries is also scheduled in the program.
The school will be held in the premises of Microgate S.r.l. (Bolzano, Italy), a high-tech industry specialised in real-time control systems for telescopes and adaptive optics, as well as in other high-tech applications.
Full accommodation will be provided by the school to all participants. Support for travel expenses will also be available.
The school participation is limited to 30 participants.
Should the applicant number exceed the available slots, the SOAC will select the participants based on their CV, with priority being given to PhD students of Italian Universities.
All useful information on the programme is available at: https://indico.ict.inaf.it/event/3366/
Contact: phd_techno_school@inaf.it
Major milestones are:
- Second announcement and opening of registrations: December 1, 2025,
- Deadline for the registration: January 15, 2026,
- Announcement of accepted participants: February 5, 2026