Graduate Positions in Astronomy
I am recruiting MSc students to join my new group at the University of Victoria in September 2027. This group will work to discover and study exoplanets using Gaia astrometry, high-contrast imaging, and adjacent techniques like RV and transit.
Supervisor: Dr. William Thompson, Assistant Professor (from July 2027), Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria.
Positions: MSc starting September 2027 (later starts considered).
Priority deadline: 1 December 2026, for both the UVic application and the NSERC master's scholarship.
First step: email me at wthompson@uvic.ca (with an n) before you apply.
More information: sefffal.github.io/students.html
Gaia's fourth data release, due in December 2026, brings epoch astrometry for nearly two billion stars, and is expected to reveal thousands of new planets (>100,000 by ~2030).
The group suits students who enjoy statistics, numerical, and computational methods. Example projects, shaped around each student's interests:
Statistics at scale. Bayesian inference across millions of stars, hierarchical models of planet populations, and rigorous model validation, using national compute resources.
Planets in Gaia DR4. Finding new giant planets and brown dwarfs, and measuring how often they occur around different kinds of stars.
Joint orbit modelling. Combining astrometry, radial velocities, transits, imaging, and interferometry to measure true masses and 3D orbits in Octofitter, our open-source package.
Imaging the planets Gaia finds. Following up new planets with JWST and large ground-based telescopes to study their atmospheres.
Instruments. Potential co-supervision with Dr. Christian Marois (UVic/NRC-HAA). Work on hardware and software for directly imaging exoplanets, GPI 2.0, and future space telescopes such as NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory.
Who should apply
Students with a background in physics, astronomy, a related field. You do not need prior research experience in exoplanets. A GRE is not required.
If these projects excite you, please get in touch. I want my group to be a welcoming place for everyone, and I especially encourage applications from people in groups underrepresented in physics and astronomy. International applicants are welcome.
Funding, travel, and collaborations
Any position will be fully funded. You would work at the centre of a large international network:
NRC Herzberg, a short drive from campus, home of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, and instrument labs.
International teams behind the Gemini Planet Imager, JWST programs, and Gaia science with potential opportunities to join observing and instrument runs.
Conferences in Canada and abroad.
How to apply
Please get in touch, and then then submit both applications by 1 December 2026. Applications received later are still considered, but not with priority or for UVic entrance awards.
Email me at wthompson@uvic.ca with your CV, unofficial transcripts, and a few sentences on what interests you.
Apply to UVic for the MSc or PhD in Physics and Astronomy through the UVic application portal, and name me as a potential supervisor.
Apply for the NSERC master's scholarship if you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person. Now called the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master's (CGRS-M, formerly CGS-M), it is worth $27,000 for one year. Submit through the tri-agency Research Portal by 1 December 2026, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, and list UVic among your choices. Students applying directly to a PhD may be eligible for the PhD level, even if not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
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