Funded PhD Opportunity: Understanding Why Galaxies Stop Forming Stars

Funded PhD Opportunity: Understanding Why Galaxies Stop Forming Stars

Project Assessment

This St Andrews–Macquarie project asks whether apparently quenched galaxies have genuinely stopped forming stars or conceal weak, dust-obscured activity. It suits astronomy/physics researchers interested in survey statistics and multiwavelength inference. The distinctive advantage is a defined international joint scholarship and complementary supervisors, rather than an unspecified general funding competition. The exact institutional award supports international full tuition and up to 42 months, but the original recruitment deadline of 30 November 2026 differs from the official EOI deadline of 18 December 2026. Prepare for the earlier date and ask both supervisors to reconcile them; neither source supplies a verified hour or time zone, and the saved record does not establish whether applications are currently being accepted. Recommendation: Strong but verify fit. Exact joint scholarship 20268950

Research Problem and Doctoral Work

Optical redness or weak emission lines do not by themselves establish an absence of star formation. Dust can hide young stars, while active galactic nuclei (AGN) can contribute radio emission that would otherwise be interpreted as star formation. The doctoral problem is therefore both physical and statistical: identify a credible genuinely quiescent population before explaining how it became quiescent.

The advertised work uses a large sample of nearby galaxies, combining EMU/ASKAP radio observations with GAMA, 6dF and DESI optical spectroscopy and Euclid infrared imaging. The student is to estimate how many galaxies have genuinely stopped forming stars and how many retain hidden low-level activity, then compare the two populations’ local environments and images to investigate the physical explanation for complete shutdown. Optical spectra indicate recent star-formation history, radio data reveal residual activity, and infrared imaging traces dust obscuration. The sample size, final proportions and mechanism are not specified. These are intended data combinations, not confirmed individual access to every release or telescope observing time. The announcement’s novelty concerns its proposed combination and target population; related multiwavelength diagnostics already exist.

A defensible thesis could first quantify cross-identification uncertainty, survey overlap, detection limits and non-detections; then compare recent star-formation histories against residual activity and population selection. This is suggested research preparation, not a promised work package. A classification or environmental association would not automatically prove which feedback mechanism caused shutdown. Prathap’s absorption-line selection limitation and Willingham’s calibration dependence make explicit validation on the intended quenched population particularly important. Prathap 2026 accepted author version Willingham 2026 original abstract

School, Programme and Field Context

The hosts are the University of St Andrews, United Kingdom, School of Physics and Astronomy, and Macquarie University, Australia, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Both institutions register the researcher from the outset. The specific partnership anticipates 21 months at each, within the 42-month award. It is doctoral studentship support, not an advertised salaried employment contract. St Andrews–Macquarie partnership call

Macquarie distinguishes a joint PhD, normally one joint testamur and jointly assessed thesis, from cotutelle arrangements with two testamurs. Its generic joint framework describes 24–36 months and its ordinary PhD three years, whereas this exact scheme explicitly allows 42 months. Use the specific award for planning, while obtaining the individual agreement defining the lead institution, certificate, assessment and reconciliation of those generic descriptions; do not assume two independent doctorates. Macquarie joint and cotutelle frameworks Macquarie PhD admissions and training

St Andrews offers SUPA advanced courses and a galaxy journal club involving review reading, plots and presentation practice. Its official subject homepage reports first in UK Physics and Astronomy in the Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 and second in Physics in the Guardian 2027. These are subject-guide signals, not doctoral laboratory outcomes. Macquarie reports QS 2027 global 126 and THE 2027 global 161, both overall institutional rankings. The relevant research advantage is complementary stellar-population and radio-survey expertise, rather than a single comparable ranking. Galaxy-group research and journal club St Andrews Physics/Astronomy PGR admissions St Andrews 2027 Physics subject guides Macquarie 2027 overall rankings

Supervisors, Papers and Research Conditions

Professor Vivienne Wild studies galaxy evolution, starbursts/post-starbursts and spectral/morphological histories. Professor Andrew Hopkins studies cosmic star formation and multiwavelength surveys and is affiliated with Macquarie’s Astrophysics and Space Technologies Research Centre. Their current profiles support the advertised division of expertise. Personal supervisory frequency, overseas-period responsibilities, computing allocations and catalogue permissions are not specified. A group journal club is not a promise of weekly individual supervision. Vivienne Wild profile Andrew Hopkins profile

Three genuine 2026 originals inform the assessment, at different reading depths:

Luo and Colleagues (2026): AGN Evidence

Luo et al., ApJ 1000(1), 24, Wild coauthor: a complete original abstract describes low-redshift matched comparisons and stacking across X-ray, mid-infrared and radio data. It reports no overall enhancement of strong AGN in post-starbursts, without excluding weaker obscured activity. This challenges a simple strong-AGN narrative but does not establish a causal shutdown mechanism. Reading was limited to the complete abstract and metadata; detailed methods and results were not read. Luo 2026 original abstract and metadata

Prathap and Colleagues (2026): Diagnostic Selection

Prathap et al., PASA 43, e047, Hopkins coauthor: selected Introduction, Data, substantial Discussion and the full Conclusion were read from the accepted author version, alongside the abstract. Separate optical-radio and infrared-radio samples contain 4,284 and 28,462 sources. Four clustering methods perform differently across diagnostics; approximately 90% diagnostic reliability/completeness is sample-dependent. Optical-line requirements exclude absorption-line galaxies, and infrared probabilities/completeness need further work. Cluster probabilities should not simply be treated as calibrated physical energy fractions. This was selected substantive reading, not the whole paper, all figures or supplementary material. Prathap 2026 accepted author version

Willingham and Colleagues (2026): Calibration Limits

Willingham et al., PASA 43, e051, Hopkins coauthor: the complete original abstract describes radio-calibrated dust correction applied to 25 published Hα luminosity functions. Applying the local relation at higher redshift can overestimate inferred cosmic star-formation density by more than two orders of magnitude. The result motivates population-aware calibration; it does not establish a universal dust law or make this local-galaxy doctorate a high-redshift project. Main-text methods/results were not read. Willingham 2026 original abstract

Each preprint and journal record denotes the same work, not an extra publication. The first paper’s restricted PDF was not used as full-text evidence. Survey availability, selection functions and an independent thesis question matter more than paper-count targets.

Funding, Application and Living Cost

Exact award and schedule

Scholarship 20268950 is open to domestic and international candidates, with full tuition and up to 3.5 years. Maintenance is paid pro rata for residence: the St Andrews reference is £20,467 for 2026/27, with 2027/28 not yet set; Macquarie publishes A$40,900 for 2027, tax exempt. These are separate residence-period payments, not two simultaneous annual stipends. The central St Andrews page expects its next rate by the end of December 2026. Exact joint scholarship 20268950 St Andrews stipend rates

The specific award includes up to A$4,000 for arranged UK–Australia flights and single OSHC through the specified provider. It generally excludes continuation/extensions/resubmission, a research-training grant or equivalent, and other travel/immigration/insurance costs unless expressly stated. Specific airfare and single-OSHC inclusions do not establish family, UK visa or IHS coverage. Confirm the individual payment calendar, research allowance and any costs after 42 months.

St Andrews-first starts are 27 September 2027 or 27 January 2028; Macquarie-first starts are 1 October 2027 or 1 February 2028. The partnership expects selection in February 2027 and formal applications to both universities by April; the exact award says by the beginning of April. The agreed itinerary and contract must precede enrolment. St Andrews–Macquarie partnership call

Qualification, English and application stages

Candidates must meet both universities’ criteria, hold no doctorate and not already be enrolled for one. St Andrews normally requires a relevant Physics/Astronomy 2:1 or overseas equivalent. Its China page gives a general postgraduate minimum of 78%, qualified by institution and degree; this is not a personal PhD equivalence decision. Macquarie expects research-Master-level preparation, including specified MRes/MPhil or a two-year Master with a major research component at Distinction level, normally 75% or equivalent. That percentage cannot be mechanically applied to a Chinese transcript. A Chinese qualification has a positive assessment route; the research component and both admissions decisions remain essential. Macquarie PhD admissions and training St Andrews Physics/Astronomy PGR admissions St Andrews China entry guidance

The ordinary shared IELTS target is 6.5 overall, each component 6.0. Format and validity differ: St Andrews profile 7-D accepts some online/home versions and normally uses two years before programme start; Macquarie’s current research policy requires a secure test centre, rejects online/home versions and uses less than two years at application. Old TOEFL thresholds also differ: St Andrews 81 overall (Reading 16, Writing 19, Listening 16, Speaking 19), versus Macquarie 86 (Reading 18, Writing 21, Listening 17, Speaking 21). Both list TOEFL new-scale thresholds of 4.5 overall and 4.0 in each component. Verify the actual test and offer requirements before booking. St Andrews English profile 7-D Macquarie current research English policy

An English-medium degree may support a St Andrews exemption under specified institutional/verification conditions. Macquarie’s specified-country postgraduate English-medium list does not include mainland China; other approved evidence has its own conditions. A Chinese English-medium degree is therefore not an automatic joint exemption. The exact EOI permits evidence of meeting both requirements or willingness to obtain the necessary test. St Andrews English validity and exemptions

The EOI goes to vw8@st-andrews.ac.uk and andrew.hopkins@mq.edu.au, copied to gr.globalprograms@mq.edu.au: CV/publications, relevant transcripts, thesis mark/word count/weight or length, a suitability statement of at most 500 words and English information. The saved recruitment materials do not specify whether non-English documents need translation or certification; confirm this with both universities. This precedes nominated formal applications, rather than replacing both admissions processes. The ordinary St Andrews formal stage requires two references received before consideration; these are not listed as EOI attachments. Later Macquarie formal admission normally includes a research proposal. The exact joint call has its own deadline and award rules; ordinary astronomy deadlines and other scholarships’ international caps do not determine this award. Exact joint scholarship 20268950 St Andrews Physics/Astronomy PGR admissions

Living and relocation

St Andrews’ 2026/27 US-loan cost-of-attendance reference, not a 2027 personal bill, lists £14,313 for accommodation/utilities/food and £5,200 for personal/living expenses over 52 weeks. Those components total £19,513, leaving only £954 against the old £20,467 stipend before listed equipment/books and travel. This arithmetic illustrates sensitivity to housing and additional costs, not a predicted deficit or guaranteed surplus. St Andrews 2026/27 administrative budget

Macquarie’s indicative Sydney budget lists a share-house room at A$370–550 weekly, food A$100–250 and utilities A$30–50, depending on included bills. A$40,900 divided by 52 is approximately A$786.54 weekly; those three expense ranges alone total A$500–850. Phone, internet, transport and relocation are additional. There is no verified 2027 rent contract or guaranteed family budget. Macquarie Sydney living expenses

Current immigration references are a £558 UK Student visa fee, £776 IHS per permission-year with charging-period rules, and an Australian Student visa charge from A$2,500 unless exempt. These are current dated charges, not fixed 2027 quotes; joint travel does not automatically make either permission last exactly 21 or 42 months. CAS/CoE, individual visa conditions and any actual research-code clearance must be checked separately. Single OSHC support does not cover all immigration or dependant costs. UK Student visa UK immigration healthcare surcharge Australian Government Student visa guide

Applicant Fit and Preparation

The strongest preparation is evidence of independent astronomy/physics research, quantitative reasoning and willingness to question diagnostic assumptions. Useful, analyst-suggested preparation includes a short reproducible catalogue-analysis example, handling uncertain/non-detections and explaining how an AGN contaminant or optical-selection cut changes a conclusion. The advert does not impose a named advanced software package or publication quota.

This is less suitable for applicants seeking a single-campus experience, an assured employment salary, or a universal Chinese-score/English waiver. The AAS career guide supports transferable statistics, programming and communication skills, while warning that academic pathways often involve temporary postdocs and competitive permanent posts. It is not evidence of a placement rate, current salary or automatic UK/Australian employment permission. AAS astronomy career guide

Next Actions and Questions to Verify

Before applying, reconcile 30 November versus 18 December, confirm both degree-equivalence decisions and choose English evidence accepted by both institutions. Prepare the exact EOI documents and request the later formal-application instructions.

At interview, ask how residual star formation will be separated from AGN, how non-detections and optical absorption-line galaxies enter selection, which data releases are available, and what independent thesis contribution and mentoring split are expected.

Before accepting, obtain the joint agreement resolving certificate/assessment and 42-month scheduling, the 2027/28 UK stipend and payment calendar, guaranteed tuition treatment at both institutions, research/computing/travel allowances and visa/IHS/family cost responsibilities. The official scheme provides a strong funding route; it is not an individual award or immigration decision.

Evidence and Sources

The original recruitment record is dated 17 October 2026.

Research and supervisors

• Original project listing
• Exact joint scholarship 20268950
• Vivienne Wild profile
• Andrew Hopkins profile
• Luo 2026 original abstract and metadata
• Prathap 2026 accepted author version
• Willingham 2026 original abstract

School, training and careers

• Galaxy-group research and journal club
• St Andrews–Macquarie partnership call
• Macquarie joint and cotutelle frameworks
• Macquarie PhD admissions and training
• St Andrews Physics/Astronomy PGR admissions
• St Andrews 2027 Physics subject guides
• Macquarie 2027 overall rankings
• AAS astronomy career guide

Funding, eligibility and costs

• St Andrews stipend rates
• St Andrews English profile 7-D
• Macquarie current research English policy
• St Andrews China entry guidance
• St Andrews 2026/27 administrative budget
• Macquarie Sydney living expenses
• UK Student visa
• UK immigration healthcare surcharge
• Australian Government Student visa guide
• St Andrews English validity and exemptions