GraWIToN is an Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under FP7-Marie Curie Actions for four years, since the 1st of February 2014. GraWIToN aims to train 14 young researchers (PhD students) in the gravitational wave (GW) search field.

The GW search is one of the most exciting fields of research; thanks to a new generation of detectors (Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo), 100 years after the prediction of the Albert Einstein General Relativity theory, the GW signals emitted by the coalescences of two black holes have been detected, achieving a cornerstone result in Physics, but also opening a new era: the Gravitational Wave astronomy. The obscure universe is no more invisible and a new chapter of the knowledge of our Universe will be written by the current detectors and by the future generation of observatories, currently under design, like the Einstein Telescope (ET), a future European Research Infrastructure.

GraWIToN researchers are embedded in this exciting research environment receiving an innovative training in the cutting edge technologies adopted in the Gravitational Wave detectors. Complex optical apparatuses, high power and low noise lasers, high reflective coatings, optical simulation and modelling using parallel computing systems are the crucial technologies used in gravitational wave detectors that are extremely interesting in the industrial sector, as highlighted by the participation of two private companies as full participants and two as associated partner. The multidisciplinary aspect is completed by the astrophysics training, fundamental for a future researcher in this field, and by an expressly multidisciplinary module, addressed to the management and outreaching skills. The participation to this project of research institutes and universities guarantees the possibility for the young researchers to achieve to doctorate degree. The participation to GraWIToN of four private companies enriches the training of the young researchers and increases their future employment possibilities. The complex network training is based on common schools, research activities and secondments in the labs of the participating partners.

The GraWIToN Project is composed by 13 partners: 9 beneficiaries (full partners), recruiting the young researchers, and 4 associated partners, collaborating to the researcher training.

Project Coordinator: Michele Punturo, INFN and EGO

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