Abstract

The Universidad de Chile created its PhD program in Astronomy in 1999. This program began funded primarily by Fundación Andes, and involved a strong collaborative effort with Yale University in the USA. Five students were accepted during the years 1999 to 2002. Since 2002 the PhD program in Astronomy evolved dramatically. The advent of the ALMA Project increased the number of applicants to graduate studies. A government grant (MECESUP) allowed funding of a total of 19 students in the period 2002 to 2006. In 2006 there were 25 students enrolled in the program, including 9 working on their PhD thesis. Such rapid growth created a strong pressure on funding sources for the program. The present Project requested funding to support two PhD student for two years, plus travel funds to help pay for student’s presentations in international conferences. The two PhD students supported have been Liza Videla and Harold Francke. Harold Francke will be presenting his thesis early in 2009, while Liza Videla will do so in mid 2009. Several refereed Publications and conference presentations have been generated within the Project.