PhD position in extragalactic astronomy

The astronomy group at Ghent University invites applications for a PhD position in extragalactic astronomy. This position fits in an international collaboration between Prof. Maarten Baes (Ghent University), Prof. Lerothodi Leeuw (University of South Africa), and Prof. Erwin de Blok (University of Cape Town; Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy).

The successful applicant will extend and use the SKIRT radiative transfer code to simulate atomic hydrogen 21 cm maps for galaxies from the IllustrisTNG cosmological hydrodynamics simulations, and compare these to observational datasets from the MeerKAT radio telescope. The project’s aim is to test the predictions from the hydrodynamics models with the highest quality HI datasets available and identify the physics that explains the 21 cm emission of galaxies across cosmic time.

Ghent is located in the Flemish speaking part of Belgium, some 50 km west of Brussels. Ghent is renowned for its beautiful medieval town centre, its lively cultural and music scene, and its vibrant student life. Ghent University is an international, highly rated university with more than 40,000 students. The astronomy group's expanding research interests include nearby galaxies, interstellar medium, hydrodynamical simulations/radiative transfer, galaxy formation and evolution, high-redshift observations and observational cosmology.

The position is fully funded for at least three years, and sufficient funding is available for short and long-term visits to the partner institutes.

Applications are due on February 4, 2020, and the project term can start as early as March 1, 2020; a later starting date is negotiable. Applicants should submit their CV directly to [email protected] and arrange for two reference letters to be sent to the same address.