DA POLICY FOR SEMESTER 2005APRS ONWARDS
Providing effective Duty Astronomer (DA) support is a key performance goal for every member of the astronomy group. ATNF can best ensure that astronomers meet these goals by the following:
- DAs will be drawn from AT staff or ATNF co-supervised students with at least 12 months PhD experience.
- All indefinite members of staff and postdocs belonging to the astrophysics group, together with members of staff who receive an individual or special research budget are required to provide DA support for at least two weeks per year (consistent with employment status/support commitments on other ATNF telescopes).
- Other ATNF PhD astronomers may also serve as DAs with the permission of their manager.
- Experienced non-ATNF astronomers may serve as DA, with the prior approval of the ATNF Head of Science Operations.
- All DAs will be familiar with their expected duties prior to arrival at the telescope (see Summary of DA duties).
- All new DAs or DAs lacking recent experience (more than nine months since
their last visit) should arrive at the telescope at least 24 hours prior to
the official start of their DA period. During this time they should:
- receive a detailed induction during this time from a member of the telescope staff with appropriate knowledge of the current system relevant to the observations to be undertaken during the DA period
- liaise closely with the current DA
- All other DAs should attend the telescope at least 12 hours prior to the
official start of their DA period. During this time should:
- liaise closely with the current DA
- All DAs will be required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all items on the current version of the DA checklist to the Head of Science Operations or his/her delegate immediately prior to the commencement of their DA run.
- Immediately prior to the completion of their DA period, the DA should complete a handover report and provide a copy to the incoming DA (see the hand-over web form).
Changes to Roster
Once confirmed, an individual will be responsible for the allocated duty astronomer time at Narrabri, or for finding a replacement person. Please inform Robin Wark (Robin.Wark@csiro.au) of any replacements or swaps.
Travel arrangements
For travel arrangements contact Kylee Forbes, (Kylee.Forbes@csiro.au) tel: (02) 6790 4024 at Narrabri.
Qantas is asking us to provide an after hours contact number with bookings. (Allowing Qantas to contact passengers in case of flight changes.) It would help Kylee if you could supply this information.
Duty astronomers should also make arrangements for their accommodation at Narrabri. This can be done by filling in the accommodation form once the travel dates are known.ATNF will provide economy airfares for DAs who provide at least one full week of continuous DA support at Narrabri. This applies from any destination within Australia. Please note that air fares cannot be provided for periods of less than one week.
ATNF may provide the cost of train or bus fares to Narrabri for Duty astronomers who provide less than one week of continuous support.
For further information contact Robin Wark (Robin.Wark@csiro.au)