Discovering new black holes in optical surveys. (NUDATA05)

Overview of the CDT

This project is being offered as part of the STFC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science, called NUdata, which is a collaboration between Northumbria and Newcastle Universities, STFC, and a portfolio of over 40 industrial partners, including SMEs, large/multinational companies, Government and not-for profit organisations, and international humanitarian organisations. Please visit https://research.northumbria.ac.uk/nudata/ for full information.

About the Project

There are thought to be more that 100 million stellar black holes in our Galaxy. However, we will never be able to detect most of them because they emit no light. The only ones we currently know of are all in a binary system with a normal star that is close enough for gas from the star to fall onto the black hole, causing the gas to glow brightly across the electromagnetic spectrum. The advent of large optical surveys that scan large parts of the sky regularly presents us with a new opportunity to detect black holes in wide binary systems with no mass transfer. This is because, in the binary systems that we view ~edge-on, the black hole will gravitationally lens light from the companion star each time it passes in front of it. Therefore, a tiny fraction of stars in the sky – the ones in an ~edge-on binary system with a black hole – will exhibit sharp periodic flares in their brightness. This project will develop the statistical techniques that will make it possible to find these needles in the haystack of hundreds of millions of stars.

Eligibility and How to Apply:

This studentship is available to home * and international applicants.

You must apply through the University’s online postgraduate application system.

You will need to:

• Insert the programme code (8821F) in the programme of study section
• Select ‘PhD Physics (FT) (Theoretical) as the programme of study
• Insert the studentship code (e.g. NUDATA01) in the studentship/partnership reference field
• attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote reference code (e.g. NUDATA01) and state how your interests and experience relate to the project
• Attach degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications.

Please note:

You must include the relevant advert reference/studentship code (e.g. NUDATA05) in your application.

The NUdata CDT is offering multiple potential PhD projects this year. If you are interested in more than one of the offered projects, then you can say this in the cover letter of your application and then either [1] you can specifically indicate the other projects you are interested in, or [2] state you are happy to be considered for other projects in general. If you are shortlisted, we will then contact you to discuss these other projects. You are strongly encouraged to do this.

You do not need to submit a research proposal for the proposed project, since the project is already defined by the supervisor. If you have your own research idea and wish to pursue that, then this is also possible - please indicate this on your application (if this is the case, then please include a research proposal of approximately 300 words).

Northumbria and Newcastle Universities take pride in, and value, the quality and diversity of our students and staff. We welcome applications from all members of the community. We offer all applicants full guidance on the application process and on details of the CDT. For informal enquiries, email Professor James McLaughlin (Northumbria: [Email Address Removed] ) or Professor Tamara Rogers (Newcastle: [Email Address Removed] ). Please contact the Principal Supervisor of the project(s) for project-specific enquiries.

Deadline for applications: Friday 29th April 2022

Start Date: 1st October 2022

Funding Notes

Home and International students (inc. EU) are welcome to apply. The studentship is available to Home and International students, and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2021/22 full time study, this is £ £16,062pa) and full tuition fees. Also, additional funding is included to cover research costs and local, national and international travel such as conferences.

We have a limited number of International awards available.

* please note: to be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.

Further information about how UKRI classifies international fee status please see Annex B of https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/UKRI-050422-TrainingGrantTermsConditionsGuidance-Apr2022.pdf

Applicants should be aware of the following additional costs that you may incur as these are not covered by the studentship.

• Immigration Health Surcharge https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
• If you need to apply for a Student Visa to enter the UK, please refer to the information on https://www.gov.uk/student-visa. It is important that you read this information very carefully as it is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct funds required for your visa application otherwise your visa may be refused.
• Check what COVID-19 tests you need to take and the quarantine rules for travel to England https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19
• Costs associated with English Language requirements which may be required for students not having completed a first degree in English, will not be borne by the CDT. Please see individual adverts for further details of the English Language requirements for the university you are applying to.