The University of Bath invites applications from outstanding candidates for two 3.5-year funded studentships to be held in the Bath Astrophysics Group on the observational study of galaxy chemical enrichment, and the theoretical astrophysics of neutron stars.
The first PhD project will involve the analysis of highly sensitive, spatially resolved spectral data to study in detail the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium (ISM) within galaxies and across cosmic history. This project will be carried out under the supervision of Dr Patricia Schady and Dr Stijn Wuyts, and will involve the analysis and interpretation of state-of-the-art VLT/MUSE emission line data, as well as absorption line data of distant and luminous gamma-ray bursts taken with the ESO Very Large Telescope X-shooter and UVES spectrographs.
The second PhD project will focus on multi-messenger detections of binary neutron star mergers, and use these to probe the physics of these energetic events, and of the extreme compact stars themselves. The successful applicant with develop theoretical models to neutron star dynamics and their dependence on the properties of neutron star matter, and nuclear physics. This PhD project will be supervised by Dr David Tsang and Dr Hendrik Van, and will make use of gravitational-wave constraints from Advanced LIGO/Virgo as well as swathe of electromagnetic data (Gamma-ray, X-ray, radio) of compact binary mergers as well as magnetars and pulsars.
More details on both advertised PhD projects can be found at the links below.
Applicants should have a background in the physical sciences and have or expect to gain a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent from an overseas University.
Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Patricia Schady at [email protected], or Dr David Tsang at [email protected].
Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form below.
Please ensure that you quote the supervisor’s name and project title in the ‘Your research interests’ section.