PhD grant on "The White Dwarf population on the era of big catalogues, Gaia, 4MOST, WEAVE"

Deadline 27/10/2024,  14:00UTC+2

The Astronomy and Astrophysics Group (GAA) at UPC (BarcelonaTech; Spain) has a long track record 
in the study of the last stages of stellar evolution, and in particular, in the study of white dwarfs, isolated 
or as members of stellar binary systems. Thanks to this recognition, we have the opportunity to offer a PhD contract.

Project code: PID2023-148661NB-I00

Brief description of the project

White dwarfs, as the most common remnants of low- and intermediate-mass stars, provide
invaluable information about the evolution and formation of our Galaxy. Likewise, they are excellent
laboratories of physical processes and stellar evolution. The information, both qualitative and
quantitative, of these stars has grown dramatically in recent years thanks to space missions such as
Gaia of the European Space Agency. This dynamic is expected to continue in the near future with
ground-based missions such as 4MOST and WEAVE, particularly in binary systems in which one of
the objects is a white dwarf. However, despite this unprecedented growth in our knowledge of white
dwarfs, many questions remain open. Among them, the precise details of the cooling processes
especially in binary systems, the evolution of the spectral types and the characterization of their
atmospheres, or the origin of magnetism, in these objects.
The purpose of this project, directed and co-directed by members of the research team specialized
in white dwarfs, is to address these questions, taking into account on the one hand the large
observational databases currently available, and on the other hand the theoretical and simulation
aspects.
Among the training aspects that are foreseen as a result of the development of this project, it is
worth noting:
- Ability to handle large astronomical catalogs, familiarity with a range of Big Data techniques
(statistical and machine learning approaches)
- Ability to analyze astrometric and photometric data provided by astronomical samples, such as
4MOST, WEAVE or Gaia
- Familiarity with astronomy software and coding languages of a general nature such as TopCat and
similar, as well as in particular stellar evolution and population simulators.

Requirements, Employment conditions, Salary, etc: https://rdi.upc.edu/ca/financament/carrera-investigadora/r1/ajuts-formacio-de-doctors-2024/ajuts-formacio-de-doctors-2024

Where to apply:  https://seuelectronica.upc.edu/en/procedures/call-for-grant-applications-for-predoctoral-contracts-for-doctoral-trainees?set_language=en

Contact: 

Santiago Torres  (santiago.torres@upc.edu)