The theoretical astrophysics and cosmology team at IGFAE invites applications for a 4-year PhD position focused on galaxy formation and evolution, to be supervised by Marta Reina-Campos.

Goal: Understanding the formation of dense star clusters, and how they impact the evolution of their host galaxies is one of the central challenges of modern astrophysics. Despite mounting evidence for reciprocal impact over the lifetime of the Universe from the James Webb Space Telescope, star clusters are overlooked in models of galaxy formation and evolution. This PhD project will explore this by developing state-of-the-art hydrodynamical simulations of dwarf galaxies. The successful candidate will then compare the predicted properties of star clusters and dwarf galaxies against data from some of the most advanced observational facilities (e.g., the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, the James Webb Space Telescope and the Euclid satellite).

Requirements: Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain before the start date) a Master’s degree in Physics, Astrophysics, or a closely related field. A background in one or more of the following areas is desirable: (a) stellar evolution; (b) galaxy formation and evolution; (c) computational astrophysics; (d) analysis of numerical simulations and large datasets. Candidates should demonstrate solid programming skills (e.g., Python, C/C++, or similar languages) and experience with scientific data analysis. Prior experience with cosmological simulations will be positively considered, but is not mandatory. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required.