PhD position in Extragalactic Astrophysics

We invite applications for one PhD position in extragalactic astrophysics at Hamburg Observatory (Universität Hamburg; UHH) within the DFG-funded Emmy Noether Research Group led by Dr. Jan-Torge Schindler.  

The group studies the formation of growing supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and their subsequent evolution in the early Universe. We aim to understand the processes by which SMBHs form, how they grow to their observed masses and how they influence the evolution of their host galaxies. Furthermore, we use actively growing SMBHs - quasars - as probes of the cosmic large-scale structure and the physical evolution of the intergalactic medium.
In order to address these science questions we exploit wide-area photometric surveys to discover new quasars at high redshift (using Euclid, LSST, data mining, machine learning, spectroscopy), conduct follow-up observations to characterise them (with optical, near-infrared, and sub-mm observations, spectroscopic modelling) and analyse their demographics (e.g., luminosity function, mass function using statistical inference).

We are looking for a candidate with a keen interest in these topics and the high-redshift Universe.
The prospective candidate will work on questions related to the formation of supermassive black holes in the context of one of the largest James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) treasury programs (COSMOS-3D). As part of a larger collaboration, they will be involved in all aspects of the project, from data reduction to final analysis.

The position is available from April 1st 2025 for a fixed term of 2 years (with a planned extension of 2 years; 4 years in total). 

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in Physics, Astronomy/Astrophysics, or equivalent at the time of starting the PhD. The position requires excellent English proficiency, good communication and team skills.

Knowledge in extragalactic astrophysics and proficiency in coding (e.g., with python) is desirable. Demonstrated experience in astronomical data reduction (imaging & spectroscopy), especially with the Hubble or James Webb Space Telescope data (using their pipelines or the “grizli” software), are additional assets.