PhD Studentship: Observing The Sun As A Star

The Sun is the only star we know for sure has no orbiting planets in the data - since we can remove them perfectly. That makes it the perfect star to study and eventually aid the search for small exoplanets orbiting other stars. This project will help with the deployment and then usage of a new polarising Solar Telescope to be connected to the brand-new HARPS3 spectrograph on La Palma. This will be a unique telescope-instrument combination and you will be among the first with data access. Data from the already running HARPS-N Solar Telescope will be used in complement and to test the new telescope. The project will be supervised by Dr Annelies Mortier.


Information about the Sun, Stars & Exoplanets research group in Birmingham can be found at www.birmingham.ac.uk/sasp/. Our group has 6 permanent academics, 11 postdoctoral researchers, and 8 PhD students and is gender-balanced at every level of seniority. Last year a PhD student within our group was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society’s prize for best PhD thesis in the UK.

The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Institute of Physics Juno Champion since 2014 and holder of the Athena SWAN Silver Award. Both initiatives recognise the School’s commitment to promote diversity and equality, and to encourage better practice for all members of the community, whilst also working towards developing an equitable working culture in which all students and staff can achieve their full potential. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented groups in physics and astronomy including, but not limited to, women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic.

Note that we do not accept CVs and applications sent directly to us by email. Follow the links towards the application portal.

Apply online via the above ‘Apply’ button.

For information contact:
sasp-phd@contacts.bham.ac.uk
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/how-to-apply/advertised-phd

Deadline for application is 15 January. 

Funding notes:

The fully-funded scholarship for UK students includes tuition fees and a living stipend. This year, we are unlikely to be in a position to offer a fully-funded international scholarship.

Advert information