Uncovering 12 billion years of supermassive black hole growth

Supervisory Team: Sebastian Hoenig

Project description:

One of the most consequential discoveries in galaxy evolution was the discovery that the masses of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the centres of galaxies are correlated with properties of the host galaxy. Understanding this link and how both components evolve together requires accurate measurements of SMBH masses across cosmic time. However, beyond the local universe (redshift z > 0.2), we currently rely on indirect methods that are prone to systematic uncertainties and may give the wrong impression of how fast SMBHs grew in the early universe.

SMBH FACTORY is a new 5-year project selected through the ERC Advanced Grant and funded through the UKRI Horizon Guarantee. With SMBH FACTORY, we will use the revolutionising angular resolution of infrared interferometry (GRAVITY+), the most sensitive industrial-scale reverberation mapping campaign (TiDES-RM), and novel 3D radiation hydro-dynamic simulations to measure “gold standard” SMBH masses out to redshift z ~ 3. We will answer the questions of how SMBHs grew through cosmic time and how they interacted with the growth of their galaxies.

As part of the PhD project, you will contribute at the critical interlink between observations and mass measurements. You will develop an advanced time-resolved spectral decomposition pipeline for the 4MOST TiDES reverberation mapping campaign, recover emission line lags of multiple lines, and determine black hole masses from 2 billion years after the Big Bang to today. You will be supported by the SMBH FACTORY team members, learn a wide variety of observational and modelling techniques and be exploiting data from the largest photometric and spectroscopic surveys, including LSST and 4MOST. We are working with international collaborators in Europe, the US, and Australia on this project and you can expect opportunities for research visits.

When applying to this position, please highlight what excites you about this project and what skills you can contribute to the team.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Prof Sebastian Hoenig, Email: s.hoenig@soton.ac.uk

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: Apply by 31 January 2024 to receive full consideration. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been identified.

Funding: This studentship is funded through a UKRI Frontier Award selected by the European Research Council Advanced Grant panel. The successful candidate will receive a stipend and have access to generous research, training, and travel funds.

How To Apply

Apply online: Search for a Postgraduate Programme of Study (soton.ac.uk) Select programme type (Research), 2025/26, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD Physics (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Sebastian Hoenig

Applications should include:

Research Proposal

Curriculum Vitae

Two reference letters

Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk