Centre for Radio Cosmology

What is the CRC?

The Centre for Radio Cosmology (CRC) is funded by the South African SKA Project and led by Prof Mario Santos. It aims to fully exploit the use of the next generation of radio telescopes for measurements in cosmology, in particular with MeerKAT and SKA1.

The CRC at UWC is active in research on cosmology with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and its precursors. CRC staff is closely involved in the South African and international SKA projects. About 10 postdoctoral researchers and 10 PhD/MSc students are doing their research within the CRC.

 

What are its goals?

The main focus of CRC is the development of pipelines and technical know how in order to have a world-leading group capable of conducting the required radio surveys and tackle the huge data volumes that will be provided by these telescopes and ultimately provide exquisite cosmological constraints.

More information on the CRC’s mission in a recent UWC Astro press release on the establishment of the CRC.

 

Key Observing Instrumentation:

The CRC aims to fully exploit the use of the next generation of radio telescopes for measurements in cosmology – in particular with South African experiments using MeerKAT, HERA (see figure below) and SKA. When completed, the SKA will be the largest radio telescope in the world, and one of the largest and most powerful observing instruments ever built.

 

 

 

 

For more information, visit the following links:
MeerKAT –  http://www.ska.ac.za/meerkat/
SKA telescope – https://www.skatelescope.org/
HERA – http://reionization.org/

 

The CRC is offering MSc and PhD Bursaries in Cosmology  2017 at UWC

Successful applicants will be supervised by Prof Mario Santos (CRC director) or Prof Roy Maartens, on cutting-edge projects in cosmology with large surveys of galaxies and neutral hydrogen. The available topics cover the key science goals of the SKA in cosmology – which are basically the same as the science goals of the major upcoming optical/infrared surveys such as DESI, Euclid and LSST. See below for a description of the topics.

APPLICATIONS
Applicants should send the following PDF documents by email:
CV + transcripts of all university-level results + a brief statement of research interests.
Applicants should also arrange for 2 reference letters to be sent directly to us by referees, with the same closing date.
Email address: mariogrs@gmail.com
Deadline: 11 July 2016

BURSARY VALUES
CRC bursaries are at the same level as bursaries from SKA South Africa:
MSc: 2 years at R105k pa + travel grant (up to R17k pa) + equipment grant (up to R22k for 2 years)
PhD: 3 years at R119k pa + travel grant (up to R22k pa) + equipment grant (up to R32k for 3 years)
Tuition fees will be fully paid by the CRC.