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| Two PhD positions in Exocometary Science available at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) | Closing date: 2022-07-07
Contact: Luca Matra |
We invite applications for two fully funded PhD positions at Trinity College Dublin, to start in September 2022 and join Prof. Matra's Exoplanetary Systems research group.
The positions will be to work on exocomets within planetesimal belts around nearby stars, including their composition, structure and formation. The projects will exploit existing and new ALMA mm-wavelength data, and/or new IR facilities like JWST and CRIRES+.
Full details below and at https://tinyurl.com/tcdphdastro22. The positions are open to EU/EEA/UK-based applicants, with deadline July 7th 2022, 5 PM Irish time. | | ▸ more | We invite applications for two 4-year PhD positions in Exocometary Science at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland). The candidates will join Prof. Luca Matra's growing Exoplanetary Systems research group within the broader Astrophysics Research Group of the School of Physics.
The Trinity Astrophysics Research Group is a friendly and vibrant environment where world-leading research on exoplanetary systems, supernovae, transients across the wavelength spectrum, pulsars, and light pollution takes place. Trinity?s campus is located at the heart of Dublin, which also hosts a number of other astrophysics research institutes. Trinity College Dublin has access to ESO and ESA world-leading facilities such as ALMA, JWST, the VLT, HST, and, in future,the European ELT. Trinity also led the establishment of the Irish LOFAR station I-LOFAR.
The first project will focus on the composition of exocomets, by observing the gas they release as they collide and grind down within planetesimal belts (extrasolar analogs of our Solar System?s Kuiper belt, also known as debris disks). More specifically, the project will focus on existing line data of gas-bearing planetesimal belts. The goal will be to measure exocometary compositions in relatively young planetary systems undergoing the latest stages of terrestrial planet formation - when these exocometary volatiles are most likely to be delivered to young terrestrial planets. In addition, the project will involve predicting observability of crucial, yet undetected, exocometary volatiles. These will be uniquely probed at IR wavelengths by JWST and by the newly commissioned CRIRES+ instrument on the VLT.
The second project will focus on resolved studies of exocometary belts around nearby stars with mm-wavelength observations. In particular, the student will exploit the results of the REASONS ALMA and SMA moderate-resolution survey. In particular, the goal will be to carry out a population synthesis modelling study to constrain the formation location and evolution of exocometary belts around nearby stars. Additionally, the student will lead the analysis of new ALMA observations of belt substructure at very high angular resolution of one or more belts. This will reveal planet-belt gravitational interaction in outer exoplanetary systems and allow us to infer the presence of unseen long-period exoplanets below current detection capabilities.
We seek excellent EU/EEA/UK-based applicants who, by the start date of September 1st 2022, will have achieved a 1st or upper 2nd class honours undergraduate degree (or equivalent), or who will have completed a Masters degree in Astronomy, Physics or relevant subject. Previous research experience is particularly valuable. These PhD scholarships will cover tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of 18500 Euro/year. We particularly encourage applications from women and minorities underrepresented in physics and astronomy.
Applicants should submit a (max 2-page) CV, two brief letters of recommendation, and a (max 1-page) personal statement outlining their academic experience, interests, and motivation for pursuing a PhD in Astronomy. The application deadline is July 7th, 2022 at 5 PM Irish Time, with online interviews likely to be held in the following days. Applications, as well as any queries, can be directed via email to Prof. Luca Matra at lmatra @ tcd.ie
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