DISCnet PhD Studentship in linking fundamental physics to cosmological data with the large-scale structure of our Universe (2023)
What you get
- Fully-paid tuition fees for three and a half years at the home fee status
- A tax-free bursary for living costs for three and a half years (£17,668 per annum in 2022/23).
- Additional financial support is provided to cover short-term and long-term travel.
- If you are not a UK national, nor an EU national with UK settled/pre-settled status, you will need to apply for a student study visa before admission.
Type of award
PhD Studentship in the Astronomy Group
PhD project
Our Universe still holds many mysteries, from its earliest beginnings to its current accelerated expansion driven by dark energy. While studying the origin and evolution of our Universe is exciting by itself, we can also use our Universe as the largest laboratory we have to push our understanding of the laws of physics!
Today, one of the richest cosmological probes is the large-scale structure of our Universe. Galaxies are not equally distributed across the sky but cluster in particular patterns tracing the underlying density field. The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is a new wide-field spectrograph at the Mayall telescope. DESI has started its 5-year survey mapping the 3D positions of tens of millions of galaxies across almost half the sky and has already produced the largest 3D map of our Universe. DESI will obtain order-of-magnitude improved measurements of the Universe’s accelerated expansion, leading to a revolutionary understanding of dark energy. The aim of this project is to make use of this new era of galaxy survey data to test the standard cosmological model and to look for new fundamental physics by analysing the large-scale structure in the distribution of galaxies.
This DISCnet PhD project ranges from developing new analytical and statistical methods to constraining fundamental physics. You can set the emphasis on either the theoretical understanding of the underlying cosmological model or the hands-on data analysis side (or anything in between).
Our innovative DISCnet training programme will give you a mix of interdisciplinary, externally relevant data intensive science skills, appropriate domain-specific knowledge and professional/personal development skills and opportunities to spend 6 month months in industrial placements to enhance your data science skills and build your networks.
Eligibility
Applicants must hold, or expect to hold, at least a UK upper second class degree (or non-UK equivalent qualification) in Physics, or a closely-related area, or else a lower second class degree followed by a relevant Master's degree.
This award is open to UK and International students.
Deadline
28 April 2023 23:00How to apply
Apply through the University of Sussex on-line system.
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply/log-into-account
Select the PhD in Physics, with an entry date of September 2023.
In the Finance & Fees section, state that you wish to be considered for studentship no DISCnet/2023/001
We advise early application as the position will be filled as soon as a suitable applicant can be found.
Due to the high volume of applications received, you may only hear from us if your application is successful.
Contact us
If you have practical questions about the progress of your on-line application or your eligibility, contact Cara Gathern at mps-pgrsupport@sussex.ac.uk
For academic questions about the project, contact Dr Eva-Maria Mueller at em675@sussex.ac.uk
Availability
At level(s):
PG (research)
Application deadline:
28 April 2023 23:00 (GMT)
the deadline has now expired
Countries
The award is available to people from these specific countries: