PLATON Training Programme

The training objectives of the PLATON Research Training Network are

• to provide world-class training for the most promising young European researchers in plasma astrophysics in general,
• to give the best young European researchers the possibility to carry out first-rate research at top European institution in the topics of heating, flares and winds,
• to train the coming generation of researchers in this field in the complementary modern techniques, especially non-linear analytical methods, large-scale parallel numerical computations and the use of modern observational facilities, in particular instruments on space missions like SOHO and TRACE,
• to give the next generation of young European researchers a broad background by letting them carry out research and training them in both solar phenomena in particular and the comparable but more general astrophysical phenomena,
• to train the next generation of researchers in the field to develop the necessary communication skills both in written and spoken language, but also in the use of modern visualisation techniques and information technology.

The special measures that will be taken to train the young researchers and other researchers working on the project are the following.
 

• Young pre-doctoral researchers will usually be spending between 6 and 12 months in a research group different from their home group. This will usually take place during the second half of their PhD time. They will work on a project which is directly related to the topic of their dissertation, but which requires the transfer of skills or knowledge not sufficiently available in their home group. They will be closely supervised by and collaborate with one or several members of the guest group. Whenever suited they will attend special high-level courses at the guest institute (or other institutes within the network) in the speciality they need training in. The young researchers will be encouraged to attend topic group meetings, network workshops and international conferences and summer schools for training purposes and to communicate the results of their research by giving talks. They will also be trained in the writing of publications. They will be involved as far as possiblein the day-to-day management of the network at working group level.
• Young postdoctoral researchers will usually be spending about 12 months in one research group of the network. It is planned that they would then moveto a group with a different complementary speciality to increase the breadth of their skills. They will collaborate with one or several memberof the guest group. Whenever suited they will attend special high-level courses at the guest institute (or other institutes within the network) in the speciality they need training in. The post-docs will attend the topic group meetings (typically every 4 months), network workshops, international conferences and summer schools. The post-docs will also provide assistance in the day-to-day management of the network at working group level.
• Both pre- and postdoctoral researchers will be trained in the use of modern visualisation techniques and information technology.
• Other researchers of a network team will usually make short visits to the other institutions depending on progress in the research project to get individual training on working group level from other researchers in the network, to attend special courses or network workshops. They will also attend international conferences to communicate the results of the network research to the research community.

The ratio between individual training and common training will be about 70% to 30% . Training measures on a network-wide basis will be in the form of special lecture series or summer schools. The training will be carried out by members of the network teams and/or by invited external specialists. Such network-wide training measures will take place at least twice during the duration of the network.

The topic of plasma astrophysics has a multidisciplinary character because it combines the fields of astrophysics with plasma physics. Another closely related area is that of space plasma physics. The training programme will cover all these areas.

The research methods also make use of analytical, numerical and observational techniques and the training programme will cover the areas and techniques of theoretical physics and applied mathematics, computational physics and numerical analysis and astronomy which are relevant for the research project.