The projects will focus on the Roman Galactic Bulge Time Domain Survey, one of the three major core community surveys of the mission. This survey will deliver an unprecedented high-cadence infrared dataset of the Galactic bulge, enabling transformative studies of gravitational microlensing and compact objects.
Successful candidates will work on the detection and characterisation of isolated compact baryonic objects in the Galaxy, including:
• Intermediate-mass black holes
• Stellar-mass black holes
• Free-floating planets and moons
The PhD projects will involve time-domain image data analysis, modelling of microlensing events, and statistical inference, with opportunities to contribute to methodological development of simulation and data analysis pipelines.
Supervisors
Primary Supervisor: Michael Albrow
Does the project come with funding
Yes - Full tuition fees and a competitive tax-free stipend (in line with University of Canterbury doctoral scholarship rates).
Final date for receiving applications
31 March 2026
How to apply
To apply, please send:
• A brief expression of interest
• Curriculum vitae
• Academic transcript
• Names and email addresses of two academic referees
to: Michael.Albrow@canterbury.ac.nz
Applications received by 31 March 2026 will receive full consideration.
Keywords
astronomy; astrophysics
