• Are you fascinated by black holes and neutron stars?
• Do you want to learn how they swallow gas from their surroundings and spit it back into space?
• Do you want to know what a neutron star looks like on the inside?
• Do you want to explore the demographics of black holes and neutron stars?
• Do you want to find out how all this can be achieved using astronomical observations obtained at different wavelengths?

If you answer yes to one or all of these questions, a research project in my group might be something for you! To get a general idea of the research done within my group, visit my research page.

Within the overarching theme of “observational studies of accreting neutron stars and black holes” there is a wealth of possibilities for exciting projects using different observing facilities and analysis techniques. Think of high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy to study wind outflows, radio observations to study jet outflows, X-ray reflection studies to zoom in on the hot gas circling closest to black holes and neutron stars, linking the X-rays to UV, optical or infrared emission to understand how the gas gets to the neutron star or black hole, and developing new techniques to squeeze every bit of information from observational data.

There are the following possibilities for doing a research project in my group:

• Final-year BSc research projects (12 EC) typically run from April till June and are annually advertised in February. Keep an eye out on our BSc project page if you’re interested in doing your research at API.
• Final-year MSc projects (60 EC) typically run from September till July and are annually advertised in March/April (see our MSc project page). A selection of ideas for projects that I would love to dive into with a Master student can be also be found in my slides of the MSc project presentations of April 2024. However, we can also tailor a project to your specific interests.
• Astrovaria MSc projects (6 EC) can be done year-round. Just stop by for a chat or drop me an e-mail if you’re interested in exploring possibilities.
• External students not studying at the University of Amsterdam can check out opportunities like the ERASMUS+ scholarships or the ASPIRE program to do self-funded research in my group.