Masters Compare - Find your perfect masters course.
Masters Compare - Find your perfect masters course.
Deadline: 13 December 2026
South West, All England
Dwarf galaxies are the most abundant galaxies in the Universe, yet they remain among the least understood. Their shallow gravitational wells make them exquisitely sensitive to the energy released by stars and supernovae, which can drive gas, and the heavy elements it carries, far beyond the visible galaxy. But how much gas do dwarfs retain, how is it structured, and where do their metals end up? Despite their importance, these questions remain open, limiting our understanding of how galaxies grow and enrich their surroundings.
New observations are now placing sharp constraints on these processes. The Hubble Space Telescope has revealed a growing population of absorbers tracing the circumgalactic medium of low-mass galaxies, while surveys such as DESI are delivering large libraries of emission-line measurements at the faint end of the galaxy mass function. Connecting these probes of the diffuse and dense gas phases requires models that resolve the multiphase, low-metallicity gas in and around dwarfs in a fully cosmological context.
In this PhD project, you will generate a new generation of cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of dwarf galaxies, exploiting modern GPU-accelerated and hybrid-parallel architectures to reach unprecedented resolution and sample sizes. You will use these to dissect the structure of gas flows in and around dwarf galaxies and quantify how observations can map them in the smallest galaxies.
You will work under the main supervision of Dr. Martin Rey, a leader in galaxy formation theory whose recent advances in the physical and numerical modelling of dwarf galaxies [1-2] underpin this project. Prof. Stijn Wuyts, an expert in galaxy observations across cosmic time, will provide secondary supervision, ensuring a strong balance of theoretical and observational expertise.
You will join the Bath Astrophysics Group, a vibrant and dynamic environment hosting diverse research topics, approaches and people, from neutron stars to cosmology. Your work will be embedded in a network of international collaborators, with opportunities for research visits abroad and training in high-performance computing.
Knowledge of astrophysics, research experience and strong programming skills are all desirable, but not required.
Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or high Upper Second Class UK honours degree (or equivalent international qualification) in Physics or a closely related discipline (e.g. Applied Mathematics, Computer Science).
English language requirement: Academic IELTS 6.5 Overall (no less than 6.0 in each of the 4 components), or its equivalent in one of the alternative accepted English language tests (https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/postgraduate-research-degrees-english-language-requirements-for-international-students/).
Applicants will be considered for a fully funded 4 year Hiroko Sherwin PhD studentship, with a nominal start date of 4 October 2027. This will cover the tuition fee at the Home or Overseas rate, a maintenance stipend at the UKRI rate (£21,805 in 2026/27) and a training and a generous research budget. More info here: View Website
Interested candidates should contact Dr Martin Rey for further information - [email protected]
You must make a formal application via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Physics.
IMPORTANT:
When completing the application form:
1. In the Funding your studies section, select ‘Donor or Alumni Funded Studentship’ as the studentship for which you are applying and specify Hiroko Sherwin PhD Scholarship in the text box.
2. In the Your PhD project section, quote the project title of this project and the name of the lead supervisor in the appropriate boxes.
Failure to complete these two steps will cause delays in processing your application and may cause you to miss the deadline.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups.
If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.
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Wed 11 Nov 2026