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University of Southampton

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PhD in Astronomy: Obscured Black Hole Growth at the University of Southampton University of Southampton in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Competition funded PhD project. Funding opportunities are available for UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers may cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students. Competition-based Presidential Bursaries may cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants. Competition-based studentships may cover UK-level tuition fees plus a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants. Funding is awarded on a rolling basis.

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of Southampton

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Keywords

Computer Science
Medical Imaging
Spectroscopy
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Statistics
ML

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About this position

PhD opportunity in Astronomy / Astrophysics at the University of Southampton on obscured black hole growth, dust-obscured quasars, and the evolution of supermassive black holes across cosmic time.

The project is based in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton and is supervised by Professor Manda Banerji. It focuses on a rapidly emerging population of heavily reddened quasars discovered with SPHEREx and uses new imaging and spectroscopic survey data to build a coherent picture of obscured accreting black holes.

Research directions may include variability studies with Rubin LSST, host-galaxy analysis using Euclid and Roman, and accretion/outflow characterisation with Euclid, 4MOST, and VLT-MOONS. The project also highlights the use of statistical and machine-learning methods on large survey datasets.

Eligibility: applicants should have a UK 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent. Helpful background includes astrophysics, research experience, coding, and analysis of large datasets. The advert also welcomes applicants with non-standard routes or relevant professional experience.

Funding: competition-funded PhD project with opportunities for UK and international students. Funding may include fee waivers, tuition coverage, and a living stipend for top-ranked applicants, depending on the scheme.

How to apply: submit an online application for Research, 2027/28, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and search for PhD Physics (7089). Add the supervisor name in section 2 and include your CV, two references, transcripts/certificates, and English language evidence if needed.

Contact: for an initial conversation, email Professor Manda Banerji at [email protected]. For application questions, contact [email protected].

Funding details

Competition funded PhD project. Funding opportunities are available for UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers may cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students. Competition-based Presidential Bursaries may cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants. Competition-based studentships may cover UK-level tuition fees plus a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants. Funding is awarded on a rolling basis.

What's required

Applicants must have a UK 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent. Desirable: curiosity, motivation, and drive; strong research potential with a solid grounding in astrophysics; willingness to learn new techniques; prior research experience such as a final-year or summer project; and coding/analysis experience with large datasets. Non-standard routes or relevant professional experience may also be considered.

How to apply

Apply online via the University of Southampton portal. Choose programme type Research for 2027/28, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, select full time or part time, search for PhD Physics (7089), and add the supervisor name in section 2. Include your CV, two academic references, transcripts/certificates, and English language qualification if applicable.

More information can be found here

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