We offer a PhD project within the Instituto de Física de Cantabria (CSIC – UC) Observational Cosmology and Instrumentation Group. The project will forecast the performance of the future 21-cm observations (e.g., SKA experiment) to study fundamental aspects of our universe. In particular, in relation to its homogeneity, isotropy and non-Gaussianity, which will allow us to have a better knowledge of the physics behind the cosmic inflation. This is particularly relevant, in the light of the anomalies revealed by the analysis of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data (e.g., ESA Planck). These anomalies imply small departures from the predictions made by the standard cosmological model. In this sense, new cosmological probes are needed and, among them, 21-cm is an ideal counterpart.

A key step to obtain such information from these radio observations is to develop high-precision component separation methodologies that could separate the cosmological signal at different redshift intervals, and from astrophysical contaminants. Although the activities will focus in the context of the SKA experiment, the tools could also be applied to some pathfinder experiments like the EMU/ASKAP.

These two aspects (probing the standard cosmological model and the component separation) are top-priority research lines of the hosting group. The group is worldwide acknowledged for providing outstanding contributions in cosmology and, in particular, in the framework of the CMB data analysis. It had top responsibilities within the ESA Planck collaboration, leading scientific groups to probe the Isotropy and the statistical properties of the primordial signal, and to study its interplay with the large-scale structure (LSS). Besides, the group was responsible for providing official mission products, such as the CMB anisotropies map, and the catalogue of point sources.

The group participates in international LSS (SKA, JPAS or Euclid) and CMB (LiteBIRD or QUIJOTE) collaborations.