A fully funded PhD scholarship is available to work with Dr Yvette Perrott at Victoria University of Wellington on research into the intracluster medium of galaxy clusters. The use of galaxy clusters as precision cosmological probes is currently limited by our poor understanding of how the easily-observable gas component relates to the dark-matter-dominated total mass.
This observational and simulation-based project will involve investigating flexible yet robust methods for extracting cluster gas pressure profiles from Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect data using current and next-generation instruments and investigating ways of modelling non-thermal pressure and its connection to synchrotron radio emission.
Eligibility
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in astronomy and/or general physics. Familiarity with radio astronomy, Bayesian statistics, and computational skills will also be an advantage, but not essential. Candidates must meet the entry requirements for the doctoral programme at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
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Benefits
The successful applicant will receive a tax-free stipend of NZD $27,500 per year as well as payment of all university tuition fees and funding to attend international conferences (if possible). The scholarship is to be awarded for a period of three years.
Application
To apply, please send a cover letter describing why you believe you are a good fit for this position, a CV (including your academic transcript), and the names of two academic referees to yvette.perrott@vuw.ac.nz.