PhD researcher position (start date fall 2024)
The Centre for Astronomy at the School of Natural Sciences of the University of Galway is inviting candidates to apply for a position in the PhD program to work with Dr. Christian Ginski on the observations of planet forming disks.
The prospective PhD researcher will have access to data from the worlds most advanced astronomical observatories, in particular the European Southern Observatories Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the extreme adaptive optics instrument SPHERE. This data will be utilized to study the planet forming environment (dust and gas rich disks around young nearby stars), at high angular resolution in near-infrared scattered light. Topics include the extraction and modelling of disk structures believed to be driven by embedded nascent planets but also stellar binary companions. The PhD researcher will be guided to submit their own observation time proposals to leading international facilities, including the James Webb Space Telescope.
The Centre for Astronomy (CfA) is part of the Physics unit in the School of Natural Sciences. Staff members at CfA are involved in a variety of research fields, in particular astronomical instrument development. The University of Galway is part of the MORFEO consortium which develops the most advanced adaptive optics system for the largest optical and near-infrared telescope in the world, the European Southern Observatories Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently under construction in the Chilean Atacama desert. The PhD researcher will be directly involved in developing observation and data processing strategies for this upcoming milestone facility.
The position is funded for 4 years and comes with a yearly (tax free) stipend of € 19,000 (likely to increase to € 22,000 as of 2024) and includes all University fees (with the exception of the yearly student levy of €140). Paid sick leave is also included.
To be eligible for the position you must either have completed a relevant (Physics or Astronomy) undergrad program (or expect to have it completed by the starting date of the position) with a minimum of second class honors, grade 1 (2.1 in the Irish system) or a Masters degree.
A full application consists of the following:
1 page CV (include any publications if applicable)
1 page motivation letter
1 page research statement (e.g. think of your final undergrad project)
most recent transcript of grades
1 academic reference letter
The reference letter should be sent directly by the selected academic reference to christian.ginski@universityofgalway.ie. Letters submitted by the candidates themselves will not be accepted. Please put “Reference Letter PhD position for NAME” as the subject line of the email.
All remaining materials should be submitted as a single pdf file also to christian.ginski@universityofgalway.ie. Please put in the subject line “Application for PhD position NAME”.
The deadline for applications is the 19th of January 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted shortly thereafter to arrange for an (online) interview which will be held roughly mid of February 2024. An offer will be made by the end of February/beginning of March. The position is due to start no later than September 2024.
We will contact all applicants so that you are aware of the status of your application!
For further inquiry on the position please contact Dr. Christian Ginski at christian.ginski@universityofgalway.ie. You can also visit christian-ginski.com for more information of the research field and direction for this PhD position.