Title:
Measuring the feedback from supermassive black hole jets
Type:
Living allowance plus international student fee waiver
Value & Duration:
TGRS or APA scholarships provide AUD $26,288 per annum (2016 rate) living allowance for 3 years, with a possible 6 month extension. This rate is indexed annually.
Closing date:
10 April 2016, 12:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time
The Research Project:
Accretion of matter by black holes at the centres of galaxies produces energetic outflows in the form of bipolar relativistic jets. The interaction of these jets with their surroundings, through the process of so-called AGN feedback, dramatically regulates the evolutionary history of the largest galaxies in the Universe. Understanding the black hole – galaxy feedback loop is a major science driver for next-generation astronomical instruments, including the Square Kilometre Array.The SKA will collect a wealth of data related to the AGN feedback process, however the challenge is to interpret it within a robust theoretical framework.
Our group at UTAS has developed a novel combined galaxy – AGN analytical model (Turner & Shabala 2015), and we have recently commenced a complementary detailed numerical simulations programme. This PhD project will link models describing two different spatial scales which are currently considered separately: within and outside the gaseous disk of the AGN host galaxy. The models will be applied to existing and upcoming observational data, including from the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP), the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) and the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA).
This project will be performed in close collaboration with the University of Sydney (observations) and the University of Hertfordshire (UK; observations and simulations). It is an extension of Dr Shabala’s DECRA Fellowship, and directly related to the submitted ARC proposal DP170100432.
Eligibility:
The following eligibility criteria apply to this scholarship:
  • The scholarship is open to Australian (domestic) candidates and to International candidates.
  • Applicants must already have been awarded a first class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector.
  • Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills.
Candidates from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Candidates with physics or astronomy experience are particularly encouraged. Programming skills would be an advantage for this project.
Funding (delete if not relevant):
This PhD scholarship is funded by the University of Tasmania.
Application Process:
Applicants should complete the application via the University of Tasmania's admissions system and scholarship section (see How to Apply on theGraduate Research Future Studentspage) and indicateunder ‘Scholarship Support: Living Allowance’that you wish to be considered for a ‘UTAS merit-based scholarship for a living allowance’
More information:
Please contact Dr Stas Shabala(School of Physical Sciences) for more information.