“Astronomy is a science which, at the most basic level, tries to answer existential questions such as how do we fit in, where do we come from ? The reason you may want to consider Extragalactic astronomy for a PhD is that it explores the growth and evolution of structure in the Universe.” — Associate Professor Misty Bentz
Dr. Michael Crenshaw studies supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies that are actively feeding on their surroundings. He is an expert on winds of ionized gas moving outward at speeds of thousands of kilometers per second, which affect the growth and evolution of the black holes and their galaxies.
Dr. Misty Bentz is an expert in determining the masses of black holes using their strong gravitational signatures on the stars and gas around them. She also studies the symbiotic relationship between supermassive black holes and the galaxies in which they live.
STELLAR ASTRONOMY
“Our program is extremely strong in Stellar Astronomy: from broad surveys to new images of stars and their environments, new students are sure to find projects that spark their interest !“. — Professor Todd Henry, Director of RECONS
Dr. Todd Henry studies the smallest and most abundant stars in our galaxy, the M dwarfs. He leads the RECONS consortium, an international collaboration of astronomers devoted to identifying and accurately measuring the physical properties of all the stars and brown dwarfs within 80 light years of the Sun.
Dr. Russel White studies the formation of evolution of stars and planets. He does this by using a variety of observational techniques to precisely measure the properties of stars and constrain theories of stellar evolution. These precisions measurements are also leading to the discovery of the youngest planets known.
Dr. Sebastien Lepine is an expert in large astronomical surveys and data-mining techniques. He maintains a catalog of 2.5 million stars closest to the Sun, identifying the best systems to search for exoplanets. He also studies the motions of stars near the Sun, and how these can retrace the formation and history of our galaxy.
Dr. Doug Gies studies the most massive stars in our galaxy, the OB stars. These are often found in systems of two or more stars, are sometimes surrounded by massive spinning disks, and generate powerful winds that replenish and churn out the interstellar clouds from which new stars are born.
Professor Todd Henry
The CHARA team getting CHARA ready for observing
CHARA ASTRONOMY
“GSU has the unique privilege to own and operate the Center for High Angular Resolution array, where six telescopes are used simultaneously to deliver the highest resolution visible and near-infrared images in the world. With a resolution already ten times that of future Extremely Large Telescopes, every time we observe, we see something new. With several high-impact Nature papers written by CHARA graduate students, an environment where you’ll learn cutting-edge software and hardware tricks, and friendly CHARA collaborators all over the world… do I need to say more for you to consider CHARA for your PhD ? !” — Assistant Professor Fabien Baron
Dr. Doug Gies is the director of the Center for High Angular Resolution (see also above under the Stellar Astronomy section).
Dr. Fabien Baron is an expert in the technique of optical interferometry, which makes it possible to obtain exceptionally precise images of stars. Dr. Baronʼs methods are used to image the surfaces of stars, and of dust-and-gas discs where planets are forming. He offers PhD subjects related to imaging, both from the astronomical science and the computer science angles.
A team of a dozen people led by Dr. Theo ten Brummelaar is permanent stationed at CHARA (Mount Wilson, CA). Multiple opportunities to pursue an instrumental PhD are available.
REMOTE SENSING/INSTRUMENTATION
“The Remote Sensing for Space Sciences team is a new group (two-years old) in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. We conduct research that is focused on two branches of the field of remote sensing: Astronomy and Space Domain Awareness. Typically, the techniques and instrumentation we develop in one branch have application in the other. Working with our group offers the opportunity to work in a cross-disciplinary team with strong ties to researchers both outside of the academic world and internationally.” — Professor Stuart Jefferies
Dr. Stuart Jefferies works on multiple projects related to remote sensing, Solar physics, and planetology.
Professor Stuart Jefferies, at the South Pole
Professor Piet Martens with his favorite equations
SOLAR PHYSICS & THE SOLAR-STELLAR CONNECTIONS
“The Solar physics group has opportunities for graduate students to work on data analysis from current advanced NASA spacecraft, carry out cutting edge numerical simulations of the Sun and stars using the nations’ most high powered computers, develop innovative new instrumentation and take part in observing runs in Antarctica and Hawaii. Solar physics students have the opportunity to become part of the astro-informatics cluster, an interdisciplinary group between computer science and astrophysics that uses the methods of Data Analytics to address big data challenges in solar and stellar physics. Our group meets weekly, with grad students from both sides present, and our current focus is on forecasting space weather, the prime societally relevant challenge for solar physics. Graduate students in this group take classes in both disciplines and have found themselves in high demand on the job market.” — Professor Piet Martens
Dr. Piet Martens works on monitoring the Sun’s surface phenomena. Together with Prof. Angryk (Computer Science) and research scientist Dr. Georgoulis they constitute the core of the astro-informatics cluster.
Dr. Jane Pratt works on numerical models of the Sun and stars on High Performance Computers.
Dr. Stuart Jefferies works on developing instrumentation for observing the Sun (see also above under the Remote Sensing section).