Application Information

Application Timeline

Applications for the 2024-2025 TEXAS Cohort will be open in spring 2024.

Interviews will be conducted in late March through April until both positions are filled.

 

Eligibility

Bridge fellows must have completed a BS or BA in Physics, Astronomy, or a related field from an accredited college or university by the time the program starts (June 2023). Bridge fellows must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We particularly encourage applications by individuals from groups that are historically underrepresented in astronomy and astrophysics.

 

Components of the Application

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume
  • Personal Statement: a statement (up to two pages) describing your research interests, experiences, and motivation for applying to the bridge program.
  • Diversity Statement: a one-page statement describing your experiences and future plans to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Transcripts: both unofficial and official undergraduate transcripts are acceptable.
  • Letters of Recommendation: only one letter of recommendation is required but up to three are accepted. We recommend reaching out to academic advisors, research advisors, internship supervisors, mentors, teachers, or employers.

CV, personal statements, diversity statements, and transcripts should be submitted here. Letters of recommendation should be emailed directly to texas.paare@gmail.com.
Program Overview

The new “Building a Team for EXtragalactic AStrophysics (TEXAS)” program involves a partnership between The University of North Texas (UNT, Profs. Yuan Li and Ohad Shemmer) and The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD, Profs. Michael Kesden and Lindsay King). A description of the research groups and potential projects can be found here. This program is supported by the NSF Partnerships in Astronomy & Astrophysics Research and Education (PAARE).

We invite applications for two positions in our year-long post-baccalaureate Bridge Program. The goal of this program is to prepare students to attend astronomy and astrophysics graduate schools by providing additional educational and research experience. We will provide financial support to two Bridge Fellows, one at UNT and one at UTD, to spend a year engaging in exciting research in extragalactic astrophysics, career development activities, and education. Our program seeks applications from students who are extremely interested in pursuing graduate studies in astrophysics. Students who have not had access to many research opportunities or upper-level astrophysics classes are particularly encouraged to apply. We hope this program will be a bridge both to graduate school and successful careers in astrophysics.

The Bridge Fellows will be fully integrated into our research groups. They will be mentored by both primary and secondary faculty advisors, as well as a peer graduate student mentor. They will also be encouraged to take a relevant undergraduate or graduate course each semester (tuition covered by the program) to further their education.

The TEXAS PAARE program will also include a monthly astronomy colloquium series, held alternately at UNT and UTD. In addition, there will be an annual DFW astronomy symposium open to all interested students, postdocs, and faculty.

We hosted a live Q&A session on Feb 15, 2023. Here is the zoom recording. Please email us at texas.paare@gmail.com if you have any additional questions about the program. Please also feel free to directly reach out to individual faculty mentors listed below.

Bridge Mentors

Yuan Li

works in the general field of galaxy evolution, with a focus on massive galaxies, galaxy clusters, and supermassive black holes.

Ohad Shemmer

works on multiwavelength studies of active galactic nuclei using data from a variety of ground-based and space-borne observatories.

Lindsay King

focuses on the formation and evolution of compact objects, galaxies, and clusters using tools including gravitational lensing.

Michael Kesden

investigates gravitational-wave emission and spin precession by binary black holes and stellar tidal disruption events.