Applications for membership in the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) International Science Development Teams (ISDTs) will be accepted until 8 February 2019. The ISDTs are research groups that provide scientific guidance and feedback to the TMT project, stimulate planning for future TMT observing programs, and build connections between TMT and the international astronomical community. They foster scientific collaboration across the TMT partnership and beyond, into the broader astronomical community. ISDT membership is open to all qualified Ph.D. scientists.
ISDT members contributed extensively to the TMT Detailed Science Case, and have written a set of concept studies for TMT Key Project observing programs. They have developed plans and priorities for future-generation TMT instrumentation and AO systems. The ISDTs organize parallel topical sessions at the annual TMT Science Forum.
There are currently nine ISDTs, organized around the following science themes:
Applicants may also propose to form new ISDTs to focus on science that does not fit well within the scope of the existing groups, or on subtopics drawn from one or more of the existing ISDTs that merit additional emphasis within TMT planning.
Application instructions are available at the TMT ISDT web site, where you can also find more detailed information about the ISDTs, their organizers, membership, and activities. ISDT membership entails a commitment of time and effort. Applications will be evaluated by the ISDT organizers and the TMT Science Advisory Committee based on the candidate's scientific qualifications and the activities that she or he proposes to carry out in support of the ISDT and TMT.
TMT Science Forum 2018
TMT-China Annual Assembly and TMT-HROS Workshop