The Surface and Skies of Venus (MPhil)

About the Project

2 year MPhil

We don’t know how the planet Venus – Earth's near-twin in size and mass – has evolved so differently. Today, the surface is scorching hot and the skies are full of acid. We don’t know if Venus had a more temperate past, whether there was surface water, how many active volcanoes it has today, or even if there is niche habitat for microscopic life in the clouds. The project will use a dataset from radio and ultraviolet astronomy. The data were taken with multiple telescopes over two times when opposite sides of the planet faced us. The ultraviolet wavelengths trace cloud-patterns and a mysterious absorber in the clouds. The radio data connect the clouds to the lower atmosphere and surface. These data can be used to measure the surface and even sub-surface properties – what kinds of minerals are present, are they consistent with the dominance of volcanoes? - and also to look for a key potentially life-linked gas (ammonia) in the atmosphere.  The aim of the project is to understand if phenomena on the surface of Venus influence the fast-changing conditions in the atmosphere. The dataset is unique, as there has not been any previous co-ordinated observing campaign at these wavelengths.

How to apply

Applicants should apply to the Master of Philosophy in Physics and Astronomy.

Applicants should submit an application for postgraduate study via the Cardiff University webpages (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/programme/physics-and-astronomy) including:

• your academic CV
• Your degree certificates and transcripts to date including certified translations if these are not in English
• a personal statement/covering letter
• two references, at least one of which should be academic. Your references can be emailed by the referee to physics-admissions@cardiff.ac.uk

Please note: We are do not contact referees directly for references for each applicant due to the volume of applications we receive.

In the "Research Proposal" section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project.

In the funding section, please select that you will be self-funded or include your own sponsorship or scholarship details.

Once your application is submitted, we will review it and advise you within a few weeks if you have been shortlisted for an interview.

Cardiff University and the School of Physics and Astronomy are committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity. Our inclusive environment welcomes applications from talented people from diverse backgrounds. We strongly welcome female applicants and those from any ethnic minority group, as they are underrepresented in our School. The School of Physics & Astronomy has a Juno Practitioner accreditation that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in science. The University is committed to ensuring that we sustain a positive working environment for all staff to flourish and achieve. As part of this commitment, the University has developed a flexible and responsive framework of procedures to support staff in managing their work and personal commitments wherever possible. Applications are welcome from individuals who wish to work part-time or full time.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - research – Cardiff University.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. We very much welcome applications in Welsh.

Funding Notes

2 year MPhil: This project is offered for self-funded students only, or those with their own sponsorship or scholarship award. £2000 per annum will also be required -travel costs to conferences & visit collaborators £1000 - cost for a laptop.

References

Phosphine gas in the cloud decks of Venus” by Jane Greaves et al., in Nature Astronomy (2021): https://rdcu.be/eOLIW