School Registration

The application form for the 2021 Submillimeter Array can be found here. Please read the instructions below before proceeding to the application.

Applications will close on January 16th, 2021. Admitted and wait-listed students will be notified by February 16th, 2021. There is no registration fee for the school, although students will be expected to have access to a computer with the Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) software package installed. Further details on CASA, including links for downloading the software, can be found here.

Only students who are intending on participating in the full set of activities -- including the observing and data reduction sessions -- need to put in an application. Students who are only interested in accessing the lecture material do not need to put in an application, and can instead e-mail sma-school@cfa.harvard.edu to request to be notified when the lecture material becomes available.

Application Instructions

When first logging in to the application system, you will need to create an account with the CfA Application service. To do so, simply enter your e-mail address and click the 'Update Account' button, then the 'Register' button. This will allow you return to an in-progress application later on.

The application requires submission of a limited, 1-page proposal for an observation, to be conducted during the duration of the school. The proposal should include a scientific and technical justification, with the expectation that the student will be able to gather approximately two hours of on-source time.

• You can see the sensitivity expected to be achieved in this time using the SMA sensitivity calculator,
  by inserting +-2 (hours, which includes some calibration overhead) in the min/max HA (hour angle).
• The SMA Passband Visualizer can be use to plan your frequency settings

Students should propose for a non-polarization observation in either the compact or extended configurations. Be aware that while weather conditions on Maunakea year-round are generally good, the proposed observations are more likely to happen if they can make use of 4mm PWV weather (i.e., weather suitable for 230 GHz observations).

Admitted and wait-listed students will be selected based on their applications. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, creed, national origin or gender. We particularly encourage applications from individuals belonging to historically underrepresented groups.