PhD Project: Evolution and Synthetic Observations of Warped Accretion Discs Monash University in Australia

This PhD project at Monash University, supervised by Dr Rebecca Nealon, investigates the evolution of accretion discs, particularly those that are warped or distorted, and their connection to astronomical observations. Warped disc geometry has been directly observed in planet-forming discs around young stars (protoplanetary discs) and is inferred to occur around black hole discs. The research aims to advance understanding of these phenomena using a combination of 3D and 1D simulations, as well as synthetic observations to compare with real data.

Possible research directions include studying the evolution of dust in warped discs with varying temperature profiles and generating synthetic observations from 1D simulations. The project is highly interdisciplinary, combining astrophysics, computational modeling, and observational astronomy. Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with other members of the department and may tailor their project focus according to their interests.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in physics, astronomy, or a related field, and experience with computational simulations or numerical modeling is desirable. The position is based at Monash University in Australia, within the School of Physics. Funding details are not specified in the post, so candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Nealon for further information and to discuss alternative project arrangements.

To apply, visit the Monash University Physics postgraduate project page and locate Dr Rebecca Nealon's available PhD positions. For further details or to discuss project options, contact Dr Nealon at the provided email address. The application process and requirements are outlined on the university website.