Research positions
PhD projects
We are recruiting PhD students to be part of our Astronomy group at the University of Southampton.
If you are interested in working with me on Supermassive Black Holes, Active Galactic Nuclei or Galaxy Evolution please see below for some of the possible research projects.
Please visit the Southampton recruitment page and/or contact me for more information.
Portuguese students: Temos bolsas para alunos Europeus a estamos também a apoiar candidaturas às bolsas FCT. Alunos interessados em trabalhar com qualquer um dos membros académicos de Southampton são convidados a contactar-me antes de 17 Janeiro 2025 para mais detalhes.
INVESTIGATING THE PROPERTIES OF ACTIVE BLACK HOLES IN INTERACTING GALAXIES
3.5/4 years - Application deadline 17 Jan 2025
Project available for externally funded students. Portuguese students applying for FCT scholarships should contact me directly.
Supermassive black holes live in the centre of galaxies and grow by the accretion of gas from their surroundings. This process of black hole growth occurs throughout the evolution of the Universe and powers some of the most spectacular and energetic events we can observe: Active Galactic Nuclei.
In this project the student will investigate the physics behind how the gas is transported to the black hole. For this purpose, the student will analyse observations of gas in different phases (atomic, ionised and molecular) and apply physical models to study: 1) the mechanisms by which the gas is transported to the black hole, and 2) how much gas is transported in total, which controls the rate of growth of the black hole. The data will consist of observations from state-of-the-art telescopes, such as ALMA, and the student will have the opportunity to propose and plan for further observations.
The student will be part of a local research group at Southampton working on the multiwavelength properties of black holes and galaxies and will also be part of a wider international research team with opportunities for visits and training.