PhD Scholarships – Statistics and Gravitational Wave Science

The NZ Astrostatistics and General Relativity Group (NZ Gravity) is coordinating applications for several PhD scholarships within an interdisciplinary team to work on gravitational wave astronomy and statistical data analysis for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. The cross-institutional research team spans astrophysics, cosmology, mathematics and statistics with members at five New Zealand universities as well as international collaborators within the International LISA Consortium.

Space-based gravitational wave science raises deep challenges regarding source modelling and numerical simulation and requires new statistical methodologies. We are seeking highly motivated and skilled students with a strong background in mathematics, statistics, physics or a related discipline, with sound computing skills and a keen interest in interdisciplinary research in gravitational wave science. All PhD candidates will have the opportunity to join the NZ Gravity Group, obtain academic support from an interdisciplinary supervisory team and will contribute to cutting-edge research for the LISA mission.

More details about each of the PhD projects including the required skillsets and supervisors can be found here. Admissions decisions will be made by individual universities – please direct initial enquiries to the supervisors of specific projects that interest you or send general queries to Professor Richard Easther (R.Easther@auckland.ac.nz) and Professor Renate Meyer (Renate.Meyer@auckland.ac.nz).

Please note that all New Zealand universities currently require students and staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

The PhD scholarships will be available from March 2022 and provide an annual (tax-free) stipend of NZ$35,000 plus tuition fees for three years. Starting dates are flexible throughout the year.