Summer school on astronomical instrumentation for undergraduates and graduate students

AstroTech 2025 dates: Monday June 23 – Friday June 27.

AstroTech is held at University of California, Berkeley

Interested in applying?

The AstroTech Summer School Experience

AstroTech Summer School is five full days dedicated to building community while learning about and building instruments.

AstroTech summer school participants:

  • Experience hands-on instruction on astronomy and optics related content
  • Develop specialized skills in an interest area of their choosing: optomechanics, software design, calibration hardware, detectors, or electronics.
  • Work in teams to design and build a spectrograph with coaching from instructors
  • Learn and practice inclusive teamwork skills
  • Network with early career professionals and experienced faculty in instrumentation
  • Discuss career opportunities in instrumentation with representatives from industry and government
  • Have an amazing time building friendships that last beyond AstroTech summer school
  • Become part of an inclusive, enduring STEM community with opportunities to further participation post summer school at events like SPIE and AAS.
  • Come back in increasing leadership roles, and even as an instructor.

Please join the AstroTech Email list

Program Cost, Travel and Lodging

AstroTech is funded by a generous grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation, allowing us to offer it for FREE to all accepted participants.

Who Should Apply

We invite applications from undergraduates and graduate students working in the fields of students in any of the fields composing the astronomy instrumentation workforce: astronomy, engineering, physics, or computer science.  The week-long summer school is designed for upper-level undergraduates (year 3+ in the current fall term or recently completed undergraduate degree) and early graduate students (masters or PhD students in year 1 or 2 of their program).

A core goal of AstroTech is to broaden participation in the instrumentation community. We welcome and encourage all applicants. We strive to help reverse the underrepresentation of people of color, women and gender minorities, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups in astronomy instrumentation.  We especially encourage individuals from historically underrepresented groups to apply.  Applicants from all backgrounds should be committed to AstroTech goals of having an interest in making the field of instrumentation more equitable and inclusive.  

To be eligible for the summer school, applicants must be studying or working in the United States (including Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories). U.S. citizenship is not required. For more information on selection criteria, see the “Application” section of our How to Apply page.

Returning Participants

We want to invite all AstroTech Summer School alumni interested in a career in instrumentation to apply to return to the summer school in a returner role. The returner role is a wonderful opportunity for alumni to return to AstroTech summer school to deepen their understanding and further develop skills in instrumentation. It is a chance to reconnect with the AstroTech community and build new relationships. Returning students are valuable members of the AstroTech community and play a key role in the summer school experience.  Click to read more about the AstroTech returning experience.

“I returned to AstroTech this year to solidify my interest in astronomical instrumentation before starting an M.S. program this fall with a focus in optical instrumentation. Working on the instrument team allowed me to imagine what possible specialist role I might have on an instrumentation project outside of AstroTech.” 

2023 AstroTech returning participant

How to Apply

For information on how to apply and to apply to AstroTech, please visit: How to Apply.
If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact astrotech@ucsc.edu

Key Dates

Fall 2024: Application open  

February 14, 2025: Application deadline 

Late March 2025: Applicants notified of acceptance

Participating Organizations – Partner Event

AstroTech participants will have an opportunity to network with the broader astronomical instrumentation community

ISEE

Led by the Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators (ISEE) at University of California Observatories
https://isee.ucsc.edu

​Contact Us

Individuals with questions about AstroTech should contact: astrotech@ucsc.edu