We request a student to join the international ALTAIR team (http://projectaltair.org), in which s/he would play a major role both in the development of propulsion for future ALTAIR payloads, and in the operations of present ALTAIR flights over several major astronomical observatories. Propulsion will very greatly benefit future ALTAIR flights, as having the ability to modify the path of the flights will allow us to pass directly in front of type Ia supernovae in telescope images, rather than merely nearby, which will allow us to more precisely calibrate the magnitude of the supernovae (as well as other astronomical sources, including white dwarf stars and other sources which require precise photometric calibration). ALTAIR is a collaboration of 4 Canadian universities and 2 U.S. universities, plus NRC and NIST, and we launch flights approximately monthly during the summer months. The monthly balloon launches and payload recoveries each require a small team of students, staff, and faculty, and are a fun and exciting way to get started with ALTAIR. Analysis of the observation and telemetry data, in order to obtain precise photometry of supernovae and other astronomical sources, brings students into the heart of the scientific analysis required to obtain required results, and the associated systematic and statistical uncertainties with each measurement. The development of instrumentation and software for future ALTAIR flights is necessary for the continued improvement of ALTAIR, and for improvements in the precision of the measurements that ALTAIR enables, and is another great way for students, especially students with backgrounds in engineering, to improve their skills and gain experience working with a major scientific collaboration, while still playing a major hands-on role in developing primary parts of the actual instrumentation and software used for scientific measurement. Instrumentation development will be in collaboration with our industrial partner, World Star Technologies in
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Understanding the nature of dark energy, the mysterious substance that permeates the universe, contains over 2/3 of the total mass-energy of the universe, and is causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate, is one of the primary open problems in astronomy, cosmology, and all of science. The astrophysics, engineering, and technology required to understand dark energy, and whether it has been constant throughout the history of the universe, or if it has changed over cosmic time, requires both astronomical data analysis, combined with key developments in aeronautical engineering. More information can be found at http://projectaltair.org .
Student roles: The student will be first introduced to ALTAIR by participating in the balloon launch, and the payload recovery, of one of our monthly high-altitude balloon flights. This will give the student the initial hands-on experience required to better understand the data analysis to provide precise photometry of the astronomical sources on the telescope images in which we observe the ALTAIR light source, as well as experience necessary for assisting with the development of instrumentation for future ALTAIR flights. We will introduce the student to the present ALTAIR 3-D solid model, and the present software for data analysis, and point out areas (such as the development of propulsion), which could use improvement. The student will then have a choice on what specific task to work on for the remainder of the summer: improvement of the instrumentation for future ALTAIR flights, or improvement of the data analysis software chain, and with our help and guidance, s/he will make a major contribution to the future success of ALTAIR, and be an author on ALTAIR publications. The continued success of all of our students is a foremost priority for us, and we are very proud to say that previous ALTAIR summer students of ours have done extremely well: three of our former summer students are graduate students at McGill, one at University of Cambridge, one at the University of Chicago, one at the Perimeter Institute MSc program, and one at Toronto. We are also very proud to say that each one of those students has been a major author on at least one ALTAIR journal publication, and we intend to also continue that tradition with our future MITACS Globalink undergraduate.
Skills required: We are extremely interested in a student who has a background in aeronautical and/or space engineering, together with at least an interest in astronomy and/or astrophysics, to work with us on ALTAIR. Useful skills include programming experience, and knowledge of computer-aided design (in SolidWorks, or SolidEdge, or equivalent 3D modeling software).
2. Characterizing the Nearest Potential Exoplanet Host Stars
The next generation of exoplanet surveys will focus on nearby ultracool dwarf stars (<2700 K temperatures) because these objects offer some of the best opportunities for detecting and characterizing Earth-sized planets. To maximize the scientific return of these surveys, it is important to establish the physical properties of the host stars and brown dwarfs beforehand. High-resolution spectroscopy provides a powerful means of measuring rotation rates, radial velocities, magnetic activity, atmospheric chemistry, and binary companionship.
This project is part of an international effort to construct the most comprehensive high-resolution spectroscopic library of nearby ultracool dwarfs, as candidate planet hosts. The student will work with spectra obtained using state-of-the-art instruments on the Gemini Observatory and other major facilities. The primary goal will be to extract and analyze physical information from these observations using modern computational techniques. The student will learn how astronomical spectra are calibrated, processed, and interpreted. They will investigate molecular and atomic absorption features that probe atmospheric temperature, cloud properties, and chemical composition. Depending on progress and interest, the student may also measure projected rotational velocities (v sin i), search for evidence of unresolved binary systems, and compare observations to theoretical atmospheric models.
The project combines astronomy, physics, and data science. It will provide hands-on experience with large astronomical datasets and introduce the student to research practices used in modern observational astrophysics. By the end of the internship, the student will have contributed to the characterization of a scientifically valuable sample of nearby ultracool dwarfs and helped prepare targets for future exoplanet discovery and atmospheric characterization missions. The student will present their results in a written report and an oral presentation to the research group. Strong projects may contribute to conference presentations or scientific publications.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: "Ultracool dwarfs" are the smallest stars and brown dwarfs in the Galaxy. Their cool atmospheres contain molecules, condensate clouds, and magnetic phenomena that are difficult to study under terrestrial laboratory conditions. These objects are also prime targets in the search for Earth-sized exoplanets because their small radii make planetary transits easier to detect and characterize. Our research combines observations from major international observatories, including Gemini and the James Webb Space Telescope, with advanced data-analysis techniques to investigate the physical properties, atmospheres, rotation, ages, and planetary environments of ultracool dwarfs throughout the solar neighborhood.
Student roles: The student will participate in the analysis of high-resolution spectroscopic observations of nearby ultracool dwarfs under the supervision of Prof. Metchev and members of his research team. The student's primary responsibility will be to develop and apply Python-based data-analysis tools to extract scientific information from astronomical spectra.
The student will begin by learning the fundamentals of astronomical spectroscopy and becoming familiar with the structure of spectroscopic datasets. They will use existing software pipelines and scientific Python libraries to inspect, visualize, and analyze calibrated spectra. Activities may include measuring spectral line strengths, identifying molecular absorption features, determining radial velocities, estimating rotational velocity broadening, and comparing observations with theoretical atmospheric models.
A significant component of the project will involve programming and computational analysis. The student will write, test, and document Python code to automate repetitive tasks, process large datasets, and generate publication-quality figures. They will gain experience with scientific software development practices, including version control, reproducible workflows, and collaborative coding environments.
The student will also review relevant scientific literature to understand the physical interpretation of spectroscopic measurements and place their results within the broader context of brown dwarf and exoplanet research. Regular meetings with the supervisor and research group members will provide guidance and opportunities to discuss progress and troubleshoot challenges.
Throughout the internship, the student will maintain records of their methods and results, contribute to team discussions, and present interim findings. By the conclusion of the project, the student is expected to deliver a written summary of their work and an oral presentation describing their scientific results and computational methods.
The project is designed to provide substantial training in scientific programming, data analysis, spectroscopy, and observational astrophysics while contributing directly to an active international research program.
Skills required: The ideal applicant will have strong computational and quantitative skills. Experience with Python programming is essential, including familiarity with scientific libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, pandas, or astropy. Experience working in a Linux or Unix environment is desirable. Prior coursework in physics, astronomy, mathematics, computer science, data science, or engineering is beneficial but not strictly required. The student should be comfortable working with large datasets, writing and debugging code, and learning new software tools. Knowledge of statistics, signal processing, machine learning, or astronomical data analysis would be advantageous but is not required.
3. Charting the Growth of Galaxies Across Cosmic Time
Supervisor: Allison Man
University: University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus)
Galaxies evolve on astronomical timescales of millions or even billions of years. The study of galaxy evolution is therefore based on inferring connections between various galaxy populations across cosmic time. This requires knowledge of galaxy properties, such as distances, sizes, masses, ages, and star formation rates. The student will learn how to extract such information from galaxy images and spectra. Driven by the student's interest, the project will tackle one of these important research questions: What triggers or shuts down star formation in galaxies? How do active supermassive black holes influence star formation of their host galaxies? What happens to galaxies when they collide with each other? The student will apply their Python computing skills to handle large datasets and images, to make measurements and conduct an error analysis, to visualize and to present findings. These skills are relevant for a variety of projects in astronomy, other research disciplines and beyond academia. The student will have the opportunity to contribute as an author to a research publication or telescope proposal.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The Extragalactic Astrophysics Group at UBC studies how galaxies form and evolve in the early Universe, and how supermassive black holes and galaxy collisions influence star formation. We analyze observations obtained with state-of-the-art facilities such as the James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, Atacama Large Millimeter Array, the Gemini Observatory, and the Very Large Telescope. These telescopes provide a sharp and deep view of the gaseous and stellar content of galaxies emitting light in the first few billion years after the Big Bang. With a comprehensive, multi-wavelength view we can reconstruct the formation histories of galaxies.
Student roles: The student will perform an independent research project under the PI's supervision. The student will apply their Python computing skills to handle astronomical datasets and images, to visualize and to present findings. The student will read research papers and textbooks to gain a deeper understanding into the research topic. The student will have the opportunity to contribute to a research publication or telescope proposal. In that case, the student will also contribute to writing sections of a manuscript, preparing figures, and collating data from literature. The student will join a vibrant group of undergraduate and graduate students within the UBC Extragalactic Group. The student is expected to report regularly on their progress to the supervisor and to other group members through weekly meetings and on virtual communication platforms (e.g., Slack, email). The student will have the opportunity to attend seminars and colloquia organized by the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UBC.
Skills required: Required skills and background: - Knowledge in physics - Experience with Python programming - Communication skills, including good reading, listening, speaking and writing skills in English - Self-motivation and Independence - Critical thinking - Curiosity
The following skills/knowledge are not required but will be highly beneficial: - Knowledge in astronomy and statistics - Experience in data analysis - LaTeX - GitHub - SQL
4. Exotic stars in globular clusters
Supervisor: Craig Heinke
University: University of Alberta (Edmonton campus)
I will develop a research project related to X-ray binaries and/or globular clusters at the time of the project. Recent undergraduate research projects have involved:
checking a claim of large amounts of dust in globular clusters using high-quality stellar photometry (paper in prep);
testing whether a population of exotic stars called "blue stragglers" in globular clusters has two different origins (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026AJ....171..306K/abstract);
searching for evidence from X-ray spectroscopy for radio pulsars near our Galactic center (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026ApJ..1001..100H/abstract);
creating a detailed catalog of episodes when X-ray binaries containing neutron stars increased dramatically in brightness (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025ApJS..279...57H/abstract);
and identifying the nature of X-ray sources in the globular cluster NGC 362 (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024MNRAS.530...82K/abstract).
Each of these have led to publication of the work of the undergraduate researcher in a refereed journal article, though I cannot guarantee that all research will be published.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I use various telescopes, and archived data from them, to study high-energy astrophysics. I am particularly interested in dead stars--white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes, often in binary systems where the dead star is accreting matter from a companion star, making "X-ray binaries" or "cataclysmic variables". I have particular interest in globular clusters, groups of perhaps a million old stars, densely packed, where interactions among stars are more common than elsewhere.
Student roles: The student will do one of: theoretical simulations, using Python, of some aspect of the behaviour of X-ray binaries or globular cluster stars; analyzing data from a published survey, to attempt to extract new information from them; analyzing data directly from an X-ray or optical telescope, to determine new information about one or more interesting sources. We will select the particular project after the student is selected, based on which projects I have available at that time and the student's interests and strengths.
Skills required: I am looking for a student with a strong background in physics and astronomy. The candidate will have performed well in university physics classes, and will have taken any courses in astronomy available to them, and otherwise shown their intense interest in astronomy. Success in this project will require that the student both learn how to perform specific analyses (either through Python programming, and/or with specialized software produced by observatories), and that they read the relevant scientific literature and ask questions to understand the scientific impact of the analyses they are performing.
5. Exploring Relativistic Jets Launched by Compact Objects
Compact objects (black holes and neutron stars) act as powerful cosmic engines, gravitationally capturing material (known as accretion) and expelling matter in the form of powerful outflows (known as jets). While the recent groundbreaking discoveries of gravitational waves from systems of merging compact objects and the imaging of two super-massive black hole shadows by the Event Horizon Telescope represent major steps forward in our understanding, stellar-mass compact objects existing in X-ray binary systems provide much more ideal and accessible laboratories. X-ray binaries contain a stellar-mass black hole or neutron star consuming matter from a companion star. The majority of Galactic X-ray binaries oscillate between phases of quiescence and bright outbursts, allowing us to study them in real time. When X-ray binaries house neutron stars in particular, some accreted material can build up on the neutron star surface, where unstable thermonuclear burning of this material results in violent explosions known as X-ray bursts. These brief explosions provide a direct and repeatable probe of the internal dynamics of the accretion and jet ejection process. As these X-ray binaries are far too small on the sky to be directly imaged, we must take advantage of alternate methods of study. In particular, by characterizing how the intensity of the light we observe changes with wavelength and time, we can directly measure jet properties and establish a sequence of events that leads to jet launching and acceleration from the vicinity of the compact object. In this project, the student will utilize multi-wavelength astronomical observations of X-ray binaries to characterize the spectral and temporal properties of the emission, and combine these state-of-the-art observations with state-of-the-art theoretical modelling to understand accretion and jets. These data form an integral part of a large international team effort.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research program focuses on using stellar-mass black holes and neutron stars in our Galaxy as unique laboratories to understand the complex relationship between the mass inflow process (aka accretion) and material that is jettisoned away (aka jets). The main goals of my research are to develop new ways to study these jets, both in terms of designing observing techniques to gather new types of data, as well as building new computational and statistical tools to analyze these data. While my research is multi-wavelength in nature, I often focus on data taken in the radio/sub-mm portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Student roles: Student-led tasks for this project include (1) a literature review of key publications to understand the objects being studied and the state of the field, (2) learning astronomical data analysis, and (3) analyzing observational data of black hole systems in our galaxy taken with ground and space-based telescopes. Through this research project, the student will develop a unique skill set, learning telescope data collection, computational proficiency, effective communication skills, experience working in a professional team of researchers, and the critical ability to draw connections between astronomical observations and real physics. I aim to create a safe, inclusive environment and culture, where every individual will have equal opportunity to develop their scientific career.
Skills required: Experience working with astronomical data and programming experience is beneficial, but not required.
6. Extreme Astrophysics: Probing PeVatrons
Supervisor: Samar Safi-Harb
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
PeVatrons are astronomical sources that are believed to accelerate cosmic rays to PeV (~10^15 eV) energies. We are part of an international collaboration searching for PeVatrons in our Galaxy. Some of the sources have been associated with microquasars (jet sources), pulsar wind nebulae, or supernova remnants.
We have been awarded competitive observing time with X-ray telescopes to probe PeVatron candidates and identify their acceleration sites and maximum energies to which particles are accelerated to.
The research project will entail making use of new X-ray data to perform imaging and spectroscopic study of a PeVatron candidate. This will be followed by multi-wavelength spectral-energy-distribution modelling study. The research will lead to a publication in a refereed journal in Astrophysics.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The research will be in the area of extreme astrophysics, namely the physics of the extreme unattainable on Earth. Astronomical objects we study include supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, neutron stars, black holes and their mergers.
Student roles: Research literature, data analysis, coding, and writing a report at the end of summer which will contribute towards the publication of a paper in a refereed journal in Astronomy and Astrophysics. This will be done in collaboration with an international team of researchers.
Skills required: The student will have a Physics or Astronomy background. Programming in Python and writing using LateX are highly desired skills.
7. Planetary Nebulae through the eyes of the James Webb Space Telescope
Today, the world is witnessing observations of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). With its unprecedented suite of instruments, JWST provides a window into unchartered territories in the Universe which led and will lead to numerous scientific discoveries. JWST observations are inundated with emission from large carbonaceous molecules such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon molecules.
In the cosmic carbon cycle, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), fullerenes, and related species play a key role. They are thought to form in the outflows of dying carbon-rich stars, and are subsequently subjected to chemical processing due to changing physical and chemical conditions in the outflows. The end products of this processing will eventually be incorporated into the interstellar medium (ISM). However, despite their strong and ubiquitous infrared emission, many aspects of their formation and chemical evolution remain unclear. Given their importance in heating of the neutral ISM (and thus setting the thermal balance in proto-planetary disks), the emission of galaxies, and the amount of interstellar carbon they can account for, understanding how pristine complex hydrocarbons in circumstellar environments transition to PAHs in the ISM is key to our understanding of the carbon life cycle and unraveling their role in star- and planet-formation.
We have several approved JWST programs that will observe or have observed planetary nebulae (a dying stars). The program aims to understand how the properties of these carbonaceous molecules change spatially across the outflow and the processes that drive these changes. For this project, you will characterize the properties of PAH and/or fullerene emission in these planetary nebulae.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I investigate how large carbonaceous molecules form and evolve in the interstellar medium of our Milky Way and galaxies. These species are extremely abundant, and shine brightly in the infrared, often dominating the infrared emission of entire galaxies. Interstellar chemistry results in a rich and diverse mixture of molecules which we detect in astronomical observations through their unique fingerprints. By analyzing these fingerprints, we can study how these molecules react to their environment and how we can use them as tools to reveal information about their host environment and about the star formation rate across the Universe.
Student roles: The student will become part of my research group. The student will develop and use existing python software to measure the properties of the PAH or fullerene emission bands in these nebulae. Depending on the student's interest, these results may be interpreted using the NASA Ames PAH database (www.astrochemistry.org/pahdb/) to reveal the PAH properties or will be analyzed in function of the local physical conditions of the host environment (e.g. temperature, density, ...).
Skills required: The student should have a good foundation in physics, in particular modern physics and electromagnetism, interest in astronomy and experience with computer programming (python). Good communication skills, the ability to work in a team and good work ethic are required. Curiosity and enthusiasm in the research topic is desired. Strong problem solving/critical thinking skills are very useful.
8. Probing star formation with the James Webb Space Telescope
Today, the world is witnessing the first observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). With its unprecedented suite of instruments, JWST provides a window into previously unexplored regions of the Universe, enabling transformative scientific discoveries. Among the most prominent features in JWST observations is the emission from large carbonaceous molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These molecules efficiently absorb ultraviolet radiation from young, massive stars and re-emit it through bright infrared emission bands. As a result, PAH emission is being actively explored as a quantitative tracer of star formation, potentially allowing star formation rates to be determined for large samples of galaxies. The global star formation history of the Universe is one of the key diagnostics for understanding galaxy evolution and for distinguishing between different galaxy formation scenarios. However, before PAH emission can be reliably used as a tracer of star formation across cosmic time, its properties must first be thoroughly calibrated in local star-forming regions where the physical conditions are well constrained.
In this project, you will characterize the properties of PAH emission in local star-forming regions. You will investigate the spatial variability of PAH emission within these regions and compare their properties with those observed in star-forming environments throughout the Milky Way and nearby galaxies. These results will contribute to the ultimate goal of establishing PAH emission as a robust and reliable tracer of star formation across the Universe.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I investigate how large carbonaceous molecules form and evolve in the interstellar medium of our Milky Way and galaxies. These species are extremely abundant, and shine brightly in the infrared, often dominating the infrared emission of entire galaxies. Interstellar chemistry results in a rich and diverse mixture of molecules which we detect in astronomical observations through their unique fingerprints. By analyzing these fingerprints, we can study how these molecules react to their environment and how we can use them as tools to reveal information about their host environment and about the star formation rate across the Universe.
Student roles: The student will become part of my research group. The student will develop and use existing python software to measure the properties of the PAH emission bands in star forming regions.These results will be analyzed in function of the local physical conditions of the host environment.
Skills required: The student should have a good foundation in physics, in particular modern physics and electromagnetism, interest in astronomy and experience with computer programming (python). Good communication skills, the ability to work in a team and good work ethic are required. Curiosity and enthusiasm in the research topic is desired. Strong problem solving/critical thinking skills are very useful.
9. Reflection Nebulae through the eyes of the James Webb Space Telescope
Today, the world is witnessing observations of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). With its unprecedented suite of instruments, JWST provides a window into unchartered territories in the Universe which led and will lead to numerous scientific discoveries. JWST observations are inundated with emission from large carbonaceous molecules.
We have approved JWST programs that will observe a sample of nearby reflection nebulae. These programs aim to understand how large carbonaceous molecules are influenced by their host environment (e.g. radiation from the central star, density, temperature). Their results will serve as the benchmark for the interpretation of emission from large carbonaceous molecules in all environments and will provide the baseline to evaluate emission of large carbonaceous molecules as a tracer of star formation in galaxies. For this project, you will characterize the properties of large carbonaceous molecules in reflection nebulae.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I investigate how large carbonaceous molecules form and evolve in the interstellar medium of our Milky Way and galaxies. These species are extremely abundant, and shine brightly in the infrared, often dominating the infrared emission of entire galaxies. Interstellar chemistry results in a rich and diverse mixture of molecules which we detect in astronomical observations through their unique fingerprints. By analyzing these fingerprints, we can study how these molecules react to their environment and how we can use them as tools to reveal information about their host environment and about the star formation rate across the Universe.
Student roles: The student will become part of my research group. The student will develop and use existing python software to measure the properties of the PAH emission bands in reflection nebulae. Depending on the student's interest, these results may be interpreted using the NASA Ames PAH database (www.astrochemistry.org/pahdb/) to reveal the PAH properties or will be analyzed in function of the local physical conditions of the host environment (e.g. temperature, density, ...).
Skills required: The student should have a good foundation in physics, in particular modern physics and electromagnetism, interest in astronomy and experience with computer programming (python). Good communication skills, the ability to work in a team and good work ethic are required. Curiosity and enthusiasm in the research topic is desired. Strong problem solving/critical thinking skills are very useful.
10. Revealing Galaxy Formation and the Nature of Dark Matter with Galactic Archaeology
What is the nature of dark matter? How do galaxies form and evolve over time, and how did we get here? The Milky Way is one of the best places in the Universe to learn about the formation and evolution of galaxies and the nature of the dark matter, which is known as an emerging research field called near-field cosmology. In particular, the satellites of Milky Way -- both intact (e.g. dwarf galaxies, globular clusters) and disrupted (e.g. the ribbon-like structures in the sky known as stellar streams) -- become extremely powerful probes, as the positions, velocities, chemical abundances of individual stars in these systems have been provided by the recent astronomical surveys. By analyzing observational data from the modern astronomical surveys, we will be able to understand the building blocks of the MW, the formation and evolution of the least massive galaxies, and ultimately, the microscopic properties of dark matter.
Using cutting-edge astronomical data, students will explore the formation of the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, gaining insights into galaxy evolution and the nature of dark matter. Engaging in Python programming, students will receive weekly mentorship and showcase their findings at research group meetings. This hands-on experience will not only equip them with valuable statistical and computational techniques but also provide opportunities to enhance oral and written communication skills. The research opportunity fosters interdisciplinary learning and the potential for international collaboration.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research focuses on near-field cosmology and Galactic archaeology. In particular, I study stars in the Milky Way Galaxy and nearby galaxies to understand how they form and to understand the nature of dark matter. I am an observational astrophysicist immersed in modern sky surveys with petabytes of data, using deep targeted follow-up astronomical observations to leverage the exploration of large-scale cosmic survey data. So far, I have spent over 300 nights on various optical telescopes all over the world.
Student roles: Students will engage in Python programming to analyze and visualize astronomical data, either by developing new code or modifying existing code. Students will regularly meet with supervisors for one-on-one sessions (at least weekly) to discuss project status, address challenges, and establish goals for subsequent meetings. Additionally, students will attend and present their project progress at weekly research group meetings, which include fellow undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs in Prof. Li's research group. Finally, the student will summarize its finding in a both an oral report and a written report. Through this program, students will acquire familiarity with scientific literature pertinent to their project's field, gaining expertise in applying cutting-edge astrostatistical techniques to extensive datasets, including programmatically querying astronomical databases. Furthermore, the student will attain proficiency in utilizing Python for numerical and statistical analysis, enhancing their computational skills for research purposes.
Skills required: Possess a foundational knowledge of astronomy or a strong interest in acquiring such knowledge. Demonstrate familiarity with or enthusiasm for Python programming for code development and troubleshooting; although exhaustive experience is not a prerequisite for the projects. Display a keen interest in Bayesian statistics, sampling algorithms, and model comparison. Exhibit effective written and oral communication skills, particularly in the areas of paper writing and presentations. Demonstrate a proven ability to work collaboratively in teams and engage effectively in collaborative efforts.
The project involves finding signatures of quantum gravity in astrophysical phenomena. Theoretically physical effects of quantum gravity become manifest at Planck length scales of 10^{-33} cm, much smaller than what our current experiments might probe. However, tiny fluctuations can affect non-linear chaotic systems, similar to the butterfly effect in atmospheric chaos. The students can choose from three projects: The first project is on photon orbits, based on my paper (2010),where I showed that chaotic orbits near black holes can be used to magnify the quantum gravity corrections. The photons usually circle the black hole and are detected by asymptotic observer to form the image of the event horizon. In quantum corrected geometry, the photons show different behaviour, and the critical geodesic is sent back to the asymptotics instead of orbiting the black hole infinite times. In order to see the effect of ths, we will require analytic and numerical methods with coding.
The second project suggested is `learning about primordial gravitational waves'. These were produced in the early universe, where the interactions were quantum. We will investigate interactions of gravitational waves with matter in that era. These primordial waves have not been detected yet, and we expect new work to give phenomenological results. The student will be learning the basics of general relativity, quantum corrected gravitational physics, gravitational wave emission, and aspects of numerical coding.
A third aspect we investigate concerns the quanta of gravitational waves or gravitons and whether these will be detected in near future. We have theoretical coherent states for gravitons, and these should influence the observation of gravitational waves. We would predict observational signatures and search for these in the current data. The student will be given material for the three projects listed during intake, they will work on the project of their choice.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Unifying quantum mechanics and gravity is one of the frontier challenges in theoretical physics. Quantum mechanics describes physics of tiny length scales, where energy is `quantum' and not continuous, physics is `probabilistic' and not deterministic. Gravity is the force between masses, mediated by `curved space-time'; also the physics of time-warps and black holes. How does one find quantum mechanics of gravity or curved space-time? Quantum mechanics in the presence of black holes have paradoxes, and new work has found theoretical answers to these puzzles. The challenge is to find experimental evidence of predictions of these theory results of quantum gravity.
Student roles: This project includes study of astrophysical phenomena like black hole event horizons, gravitational waves, geodesics and quantum gravitons. The student has to learn the basic notion of General Relativity, formulation of gravitational physics as a theory of space-time and learn about quantum corrections to gravitation. After the basic background has been absorbed, the student will learn the skills required to solve the differential equations which describe the quantum corrected gravitational wave propagation equation or geodesic equation. This will require knowledge of differential equations, and finite difference methods. Next the student will learn numerical coding to obtain solutions to the finite difference equations, and use scientific visualization methods (e.g. MAPLE/MATLAB) to depict the solutions. (ii) The process of computation of an original solution: As the student acquires the skills to solve the project, he/she will be assigned new differential equations describing quantum corrected gravitational waves/geodesics. The differential equations will have to be solved using numerical coding and the solutions visualized using MAPLE/MATLAB. The work could be a shared collaborative project if more than one student is assigned to this project by MITACS. The student should discuss the daily progress of the work with supervisor. (iii) Learning about early universe cosmology could also be part of the training of one of the projects. This includes study of primordial gravitational waves, phase transitions in quark-gluon plasma and the interactions in the early universe cosmic soup. The field theoretic techniques will be useful for further work in particle physics and gravitational physics. (iv) After completion of each part of the project, the student is expected to submit a report, or make an oral presentation of the work. (v) when the work is completed, the results will be submitted for publication, and the student is expected to write the paper, under the supervisor's guidance.
Skills required: The student should have basic knowledge of core undergraduate physics courses (i) Classical Mechanics (ii) Quantum Mechanics (iii) Wave mechanics (iv) Mathematical Physics and (v) Computer science courses which include coding in Fortran, Python. If the student has learnt numerical methods such as finite difference methods useful in differential equations in physics, that would be an added bonus. The student should be able to solve differential equations, be aware of finite difference methods, and numerical coding for solving these equations. Basic knowledge of General Relativity and Astrophysical phenomena such as binary black holes, geodesics, gravitational waves would be commendable.
12. Why do galaxies stop forming stars? An ALMA investigation of dense gas in post-starburst galaxies.
Post-starburst (PSB) galaxies are galaxies that have recently stopped all star formation activity, but why this "quenching" occurs remains a mystery. Since gas is the fuel for star formation, measuring its mass and physical properties can provide vital clues for understanding the cause of star formation quenching. Recent observations by my group have established that many PSBs still host abundant reservoirs of both atomic and diffuse molecular gas. So why have they stopped forming stars if they have so much gas left? In an attempt to reconcile this strange galactic behaviour, we have obtained new observations of the Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) molecular in a sample of the most gas-rich PSB galaxies using the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA). Since HCN traces the highest density gas
in a galaxy that is directly responsible for current and future star formation, these observations will hopefully help answer the question of why these galaxies have stopped forming stars. In this project, the student will reduce, process, and create science ready data products from new ALMA HCN observations of PSB galaxies. They will work directly with the interferometric data provided by ALMA and calibrate and image HCN maps for our sample of galaxies. By comparing with archival observations of more diffuse gas, as well as other HCN measurements in normal galaxies from the literature, the student will hopefully be able to answer why post-starburst galaxies have now shut off their star formation.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My group studies how galaxies form, change, and evolve throughout the age of the universe. From energetic supermassive black holes to mergers between two galaxies, we study the physical processes that cause galaxies to transition from gas-rich, active galaxies that form new stars to ones that are gas-poor and dormant. My group combines galaxy observations across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from low energy radio waves all the way to UV and X-rays, utilizing many state of the art telescope facilities from around the world to trace the evolution of galaxies across cosmic time.
Student roles: We are looking for a student to learn and implement the fundamentals of interferometric data reduction and apply these skills to new data from the ALMA telescope. They will develop a data reduction pipeline and apply it to a sample of multiple galaxies, such that final, science ready maps of dense gas will be produced for our sample. The student will utilize tools like Python and available science packages such as SciPy and Astropy to analyze the reduced gas maps and compare them to previous works in the literature for galaxies not undergoing rapid changes in their star formation activity.
Skills required: The project will focus heavily on coding and interfacing with specialist data reduction software (for which instruction will be provided). The ideal candidate is one coming from a physics or astronomy background, who is comfortable working with data analysis, familiar with statistical techniques and plotting scientific data. Knowledge of Python, including common scientific modules (Numpy, MatPlotLib, SciPy, Astropy), is also essential. Our group collaborates frequently both internally and externally, and so excellent oral communication skills are essential to this role.