Investigating Stellar Populations across Cosmic Time

PhD position in Physics at Warwick University - Investigating Stellar Populations across Cosmic Time

Dr Elizabeth Stanway

Overview

We invite applications from outstanding and highly motivated students for the Warwick Prize Scholarships in Astrophysics. The successful applicant will work with Dr Elizabeth Stanway within the Astronomy and Astrophysics group in the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick.

This project will investigate star formation and evolution in distant galaxies by using and adapting the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis (BPASS) series of models. 

When we observe a galaxy in the distant Universe, we see the integrated light from the galaxy - the total emission from all the stars, gas and dust, whatever their age and compositions. A large part of our understanding of galaxy evolution relies on decoding this information and determining where and when the stars which form that galaxy formed, how they may have influenced their environment or been influenced by it in turn, and how the individual stars that we can't see affect the galaxy that we can.

The student will work with the BPASS team on shaping that next generation of models through a combination of working on the models themselves and working on the new data that will help to shape them. This could involve analysis of galaxies in the distant Universe, their local analogues or the host galaxies of astrophysical transients such as supernovae or gamma ray bursts and the effects that the composition and evolution of their progenitor stars have on our observations. It could also involve studying the specific types of stars which have the biggest impact on their surroundings and which may provide the photons that reionized our Universe at the end of the cosmic Dark Ages.

Warwick is an internationally recognised centre of research excellence. Our group takes leading roles in many major ground and space-based projects, including the Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO), Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) telescope, Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), WHT Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE) spectrograph, 4-metre Multi-Object Spectrograph Telescope (4MOST), and Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI).

The Astronomy & Astrophysics group is part of the Physics Department at Warwick; both the department and the university hold Athena SWAN Silver awards, a national initiative to promote gender equality for all staff and students. The Physics Department is also a Juno Champion, which is an award from the Institute of Physics to recognise our efforts to address the under-representation of women in university physics and to encourage better practice for all. The Astronomy & Astrophysics group also hosts monthly equitea forums to break down barriers faced by all under-represented groups in science.

More details on PhD positions with the Astronomy and Astrophysics group at Warwick are available here.

Start Date: October 2023

Funding Duration: 3.5-4.0 years

Applications due by: 10 January 2023

Eligibility

You must have or expect a First or Upper second class MSci, MPhys or equivalent degree in Physics or a closely related discipline. Holders of BSc honours degrees are eligible but successful BSc applicants typically have substantial additional research experience. International equivalents are detailed here.

For students whose first language is not English, we normally require a score of 6.5 in IELTS or equivalent. If your previous degree was taught in an English-speaking country this requirement may be waived.

The award is available to home and international applicants.

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s online application system and follow the instructions. Use course code P-F3P0. Make sure to state an interest in the Astronomy and Astrophysics group. Please state ‘Warwick Prize Scholarships’ as the funding option. We encourage applicants to express interest in more than one available PhD project.

Funding Notes

The project will provide a full UK-standard annual tax-free stipend of £18,200, rising with inflation, plus allocations for travel and computing.