Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 February 2025
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic / International
About the research project
Stars have guided humanity since ancient times, serving as reference points for navigation across continents on foot and later for sailing across oceans to explore new lands. Today, stars remain critical: we use them to calibrate and maintain accurate position, navigation, and timing systems through GNSS, and they help navigate spacecraft through the Solar System from one planet to another. In this era of space exploration, understanding our planetary neighbors and searching for life-sustaining conditions have become vital. Determining spacecraft positions with extreme precision is essential during the mission's most critical phases: approaching planets or moons, conducting gravity-measuring flybys, or performing landing operations. During these phases, we still rely on ground-based radio telescopes to support navigation efforts.
In this project, the candidate will use the University of Tasmania's network of VLBI radio telescopes and the Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment (PRIDE) methodology to develop a sovereign capability to support the next generation of space missions. The project will primarily focus on supporting the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission. It will include single and multi-dish observations of JUICE at different stages of the cruise phase and perform interferometric measurements to determine state vectors and images of the spacecraft. The project will emphasize the Venus flyby in 2025 but will also explore how these techniques can be adapted for future missions, such as EnVision and VERITAS (to Venus), as well as for lunar applications, including orbital and landing operations.
Primary Supervisor
Funding
Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $33,511 per annum (2025 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit Scholarships and fees.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- Bachelor Hons in Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, Engineering or a closely related discipline
- Good communication skills
- Proficient computer skills
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Python, Matlab, C++ is an advantage
- Interest in planetary science, spacecraft, optical sensors, radio telescopes
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr Guifre Molera Calves to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 February 2025.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section at Research degrees.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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