CREDIT OFFERED: PHSX 500-600 level courses (Mechanics, E&M).
SALARY OFFERED: RA is available, possibly after a trial period
CONTACT PERSON: Prof. Misha Medvedev (medvedev@ku.edu)
COREQUISITE: PHSX 795 desirable and attendance at space seminar.
DESIRED SKILLS: Experience with computer programming
and/or good analytical skills are desirable.
DESCRIPTION OF JOB: Possible research topics
are diverse and include theoretical studies and/or computer modeling of: (i)
energetic phenomena in the Universe (gamma-ray bursts, supernova explosions,
active galactic nuclei, accretion of gas onto neutron stars and black holes);
(ii) various plasma-physical (microscopic) phenomena in interplanetary, interstellar,
intergalactic and inter-cluster medium that affect things we observe with telescopes;
(iii) transient behavior of plasmas produced by extremely powerful (Petawatt-scale)
lasers attempting to reconstruct extreme astrophysical conditions in lab experiments;
(iv) energetic particle (cosmic ray) production, propagation in and interaction
with our Galaxy, the heliosphere, Earth’s magnetosphere and atmosphere
as a part of an ongoing astrobiology (or, better, bio-astrophysics) project
linking cosmic causes to biological evolution.
Your own ideas and projects in these or other areas are encouraged.