Macquarie University Discovering Exoplanets With Machine Learning PhD Scholarship 2026

The search for Earth-like planets addresses one of humanity’s deepest questions: are we alone?

Develop a machine-learned model of stellar spectra and instrumental quirks, and use it to discover exoplanets in radial velocity data.

The first exoplanets were detected by the radial velocity method, looking at stellar spectra and measuring the Doppler shift that reveals the tiny gravity of an exoplanet tugging on the star. This remains the cornerstone of exoplanet science today. State-of-the-art instruments, like the Macquarie-built NEID and HPF spectrographs, have the technical capability to detect Earth-like planets – but they are limited by an imperfect knowledge of stellar activity and stellar spectra.

In this project, supervised by instrumentalist Christian Schwab and data specialist Benjamin Pope, we will use machine learning and differentiable programming to understand:

• the optics and detector of NEID and HPF
• the Earth’s atmosphere
• stellar magnetism
• exoplanet orbits end-to-end.

We will:

• push to ever more sensitive searches for exoplanets
• apply these ideas to other telescopes, missions and planets as the opportunities arise.

• Table of Content
• About Macquarie University
• Macquarie University PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Macquarie University PhD Scholarship
• Macquarie University PhD Scholarship Courses
• Requirements for Macquarie University PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Macquarie University PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Macquarie University PhD Scholarship

The scholarship comprises:

• a tuition fee offset/scholarship
• a living allowance stipend.

The value of this stipend scholarship is $39,700 per annum (full time, indexed) for three years.

Macquarie University PhD Scholarship Courses

• Science

Requirements for Macquarie University PhD Scholarship Qualification

• This scholarship is available to eligible candidates to undertake a direct entry three-year PhD program.
• Applicants will be expected to have experience in Python.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Before submitting your application, submit an expression of interest (EOI) to Benjamin Pope at [email protected].

Your EOI should include the following documents:

• your CV (two pages)
• a cover letter (one page)
• your undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• a list of any publications.

For more information, kindly visit Macquarie University scholarship webpage.