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Classification:

Stipend:

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CSIRO Undergraduate Vacation Scholarships – Astronomy and Space Science

1341

CSOF1.1

$1462.77 per fortnight

Please refer to the List of Projects at the end of this document

8 to 12 weeks from November 2015 to February 2016

The 2015/16 Vacation Scholarship Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to work on real-world problems in a leading R&D organisation.

Participation in the Vacation Scholarship Program has influenced previous scholarship holders in their choice of further study and future career options.

Many have gone on to pursue a PhD in CSIRO or to build a successful research career within CSIRO, a university or industry.

Please refer to the list of Projects on the following pages of this document.

If you require further information please contact the person listed as the

contact for the project.

Please apply for this position online at www.csiro.au/careers

You will be required to:

1.

select your top 2 research projects (from the list below) in order of preference;

2.

submit a CV which includes:

 the reasons why the research project/s you have selected are of interest to you; and how your previous skills/knowledge and experience meets the project requirements; and

 an outline your longer-term career aspirations and detail how this program will help you achieve them.

3.

upload your academic results.

Referees: Please ensure that your resume includes the name and contact details of your academic supervisor and at least one other referee (work or university).

If you experience difficulties applying online call 1300 984 220 and someone will be able to assist you. Outside business hours please email: csirocareers@csiro.au

.

Please do not email your application. Applications received via this method

may not be considered.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is Australia’s national science agency. At CSIRO we shape the future. We do this by using science to solve real issues. Our research makes a difference to industry, people and the planet.

Project

Number

CASS01

Astronomy and Space Science – Vacation Scholarships Project Details

Project Title

CHILLING out with Dwarf Galaxies

Project Description

Dwarf galaxies are the most common type of galaxies in the Universe. Use radio images of dwarf galaxies taken with the Compact Array to determine their magnetic fields and their star formation.

Project Duties/Tasks



Carry out an astronomy research project



Plan an observing project for the ATCA



Travel to the ATCA in Narrabri for observing

Relevant Fields of Study



Astronomy, Physics

Location: Marsfield (Sydney), NSW

Contact: Dr Megan Johnson on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)

CASS02 Project Title

Is the variability of light from quasars related to their radio emission?


Quasars are powered by massive black hole. Find out if the optical light from quasars is correlated with the radio light and what this implies for black holes.














Astronomy, Physics


Contact: Dr Amy Kimball on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


Discovering star fuel in the distant Universe with the Australian SKA Pathfinder


Use ASKAP, our brand new radio telescope, to find hydrogen gas in distant galaxies.

Some knowledge of Python would be ideal.














Astronomy, Physics, Computing


Contact: Dr James Allison on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


NGC4930: the galaxy with a lot of HI and an up-bending optical disk


Analyse data from a nearby massive galaxy and try and determine its properties using optical and radio data. This galaxy is very peculiar and may be the key to understanding properties of galaxies as a whole.














Astronomy, Physics


Contact: Dr Jing Wang on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


A Generic Online Interface for Radio Continuum Surveys


We have made large images of the sky which reveal thousands of galaxies. Develop a webbased tool for querying and retrieving images and catalogue - you will need strong Python coding skills.














Astronomy, Physics, Computing


Contact: Dr Ian Heywood on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


Comparison of Radio and Far-IR properties of galaxies the Australia Telescope Large Area

Survey


Combine radio images taken with the Compact Array with the infra-red images to find out about star formation in galaxies. What causes the correlation between the radio and the infra-red?














Astronomy, Physics


Contact: Dr Josh Marvil on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


Measuring the Mass of Galaxies


Measure the mass of galaxies and their rotation speeds using the hydrogen line and find out how galaxies evolve with time.














Astronomy, Physics


Contact: Dr Karen Lee-Waddel on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


Implementation of Linux on a Xilinx FPGA Platform


The Bullant3 hardware platform developed by the CASS Digital group is a versatile control platform that is being used to interface Ethernet to a number of different hardware platforms across the ASKAP project and the standard control system implemented on the

Bullant3 is based on a finite state machine receiving and processing UDP packets from a master computer across a network. This project centres on an alternative approach: to implement a Mircoblaze “softcore” processor on the Bullant3 hardware, running Linux and connected to the existing networking interfaces.




Familiarisation with the existing Bullant3 platform hardware, firmware and software.



Implement the Microblaze softcore processor on the Bullant3 FPGA hardware.



Write software to emulate the existing control system and compare the performance with the existing firmware.




Electronics Engineering or Computer Science


Contact: Andrew Brown on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


Porting monitoring and control software to support new custom electronics hardware for the ASKAP project


Each basic electronic subsystem in the large Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder

(ASKAP) radio telescope project contains a common “Bullant3” hardware platform that provides control and monitoring functionality who’s “personality” is determined by the

“Bullant3” FPGA firmware and low-level software. This project centres on porting existing control and monitoring FPGA firmware and low-level software to provide equivalent functionality for a new precise timing distribution system known as RATT (Revised ADE

Timing Transmitter).




Revise the current control and monitoring FPGA firmware and software for the

ASKAP timing system electronics



Port the existing firmware and software to support the new RATT hardware system.



Test the new control and monitoring firmware and software using the new RATT hardware and provide a report on the work.






Contact: Mark Leach on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)

CASS10 Project Title

Implementation of DSP Module in Altera FPGA Hardware


The high-performance Digital Signal Processing (DSP) electronics hardware designed at

CASS for Radio Astronomy typically centres on Xilinx Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chips. This project focusses on the major competing FPGA manufacturer, Altera, and involves implementing one of the existing DSP modules written for Xilinx technology on an

Altera chip.




Review an existing DSP module design written in VHSIC Hardware Description

Language (VHDL)



Familiarisation with Altera FPGA design tools and FPGA devices and establish a development environment



Implement the DSP module design in Altera FPGA hardware, verify the design using simulation and (if time permits) hardware and report on the differences, positive and negative, between the Xilinx and Altera solutions.






Contact: John Tuthill or Tim Bateman on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


Making Radio Telescopes Work in a Busy Spectrum


This project will assess techniques for observing weak radio-astronomy sources in the presence of strong, human-made radio transmissions. The work will be performed with a

188 element phased-array feed "radio camera" installed on a 12 m dish at Parkes to demonstrate technology for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope.




Carry out engineering research for astronomy.



Process radio-telescope data affected by radio interference.



Make new observations with the 12 m and 3.7 m antennas at Parkes.




Electrical Engineering or Physics


Contact: Dr Aaron Chippendale (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


PAF Measurements


Measurement of Phased Array Feed prototypes at Marsfield and Parkes.

A new type of detector is being deployed in radiotelescopes called a “phased array feed”

(PAF). The applications include the SKA and existing instruments like the 64m at Parkes.

This project involves the advancement of the complex measurement techniques required to characterize PAFs. It will involve microwave measurements and their analysis.








Microwave measurements at Marsfield.

Numerical analysis including computer coding, preferably in Python.

Travel to Parkes for a week or two to conduct measurements, including working at night (negotiable).




Electrical Engineering or Physics


Contact: Doug Hayman on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


A calibration system for next generation radio telescopes


This project aims to develop and trial a new calibration scheme based on a picosecond pulse transmitter, transmitting from the vertex of the antenna. It will involve aspects of microwave and digital design and will be essential to the functioning of radio telescopes in

the future.




Design the microwave/digital circuit and transmitting antenna required to produce the picosecond EM pulses



Manufacture and test a prototype system



Install the system on a radio telescope and evaluate its performance






Contact: Alex Dunning on (02) 9372 4247 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)


An Australian astronomy app


Design and develop an Australian astronomy based application for smartphones and tablets. This will include interviewing and working with a wide range of CSIRO staff, and investigating the current astronomy applications that already exist.




Investigate current astronomy applications for ideas/gaps



Interview a range of staff (including the astronomy group, engineering and computing teams, Communications, and also external astronomers) for ideas for the functionality of the app



Write up (as a report) the functional specification of what the app will do



Code the app (time permitting)




Computer/Engineering



Astronomy/Physics


Contact: Kate Chow on (02) 9372 4516 or Carol Wilson on (02) 9372 4264 or email robert.hollow@csiro.au

(email preferred)

Position Details

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Location:

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About CSIRO:

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