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Prospective Students

Call for applications to doctoral programs 2025B in UST KASI School

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) School via the University of Science and Technology (UST) is offering doctoral (direct and integrated) scholarships starting in September 2025. PhD scholarships are provided with a competitive salary of about $1600 per month for the doctoral program. KASI is located in Daejeon, a high tech, educational and research oriented city. Convenient accommodation would be provided to students for the first 3 years in the campus.

KASI is actively involved in various fields of astronomy and astrophysics, from astronomical instrumentation to observation and theory, and participates in international collaborative and stand-alone projects including GMT, ALMA, SDSS4, DESI, LSST, KMTNet, and KVN. This semester KASI is accepting applications for the following research area:

and for the detailed description of the specific research topic, see the list attached or in our major homepage (https://www.kasi.re.kr/eng/pageView/140).

We encourage qualified international students to apply. Competent students with BSc degrees can apply for an integrated PhD program. Students with MSc degrees may apply directly to the PhD program.

Questions on each research area should be sent to each assigned professor, while other questions are sent to the Chief Major Professor (Sang-Sung Lee, sslee@kasi.re.kr). For more information of application, please see the UST web page (https://ust.ac.kr/admission_eng.do). Applications are considered only if they are submitted during April 16 to May 7 (17:00 KST). 

Best regards,

Sang-Sung Lee

Chief Major Professor

1. Prof. Jeong-Yeol Han (jhan@kasi.re.kr) 

This project is for a PhD or integrated PhD student.

1) Research Overview 

  • Research on polishing and assembly alignment technology for the development of Astronomical space observation equipment
  • Research on optimal data analysis technology according to the characteristics of Astronomical space observation data
  • Research on optical system design and analysis for astronomical space telescopes

2) Research Objectives 

  • To understand the current status of large optical system mirror development technology for Astronomical application
  • To understand the development trend of advanced optical systems at home and abroad and have an outlook for mid- to long-term optical technology development
  • To understand the polishing technology of Astronomical space mirrors
  • To understand the Tool Influence Function (TIF) of mirrors
  • To understand the assembly and alignment procedures of telescopic optical systems and participate in the assembly and alignment process through analysis of assembly and alignment data
  • To participate in the assembly alignment process by analyzing assembly alignment data
  • Plan and analyze data collection for big data analysis in Astronomy and Space technology
  • To understand the current status of optical polishing machine technology development of large optical systems for Astronomy and Space.
  • To understand the development trend of advanced optical systems at home and abroad and have a perspective on the development of optical technology in the medium and long term.
  • To understand the optical system design and analysis technology of large-scale optical system for Astronomy and Space and study advanced optical system technology and research advanced optical polishing machine technology.

3) Research Methods 

  • To investigate the literature related to the development technology of large optical system mirrors for Astronomical and Space applications at home and abroad and share relevant knowledge through research meetings.
  • To secure research data related to the polishing technology of mirrors for Astronomical and Space applications, and to acquire sophisticated knowledge of the literature through regular publication of research papers.
  • To acquire sophisticated knowledge of the literature and to understand the novelty of research and development in the Astronomical field
  • To obtain and analyze the tool influence function of the mirror to optimize the polishing process
  • To hold regular and irregular meetings with the supervisor to discuss the research.
  • To develop research capabilities through regular and irregular meetings with the supervisor to optimize the polishing process by obtaining and analyzing the tool influence functions of mirrors
  • To understand the assembly and alignment procedures of telescopic optical systems and the experience of assembly and alignment in existing observatories - To develop new optical systems based on existing research data for polishing and alignment.
  • To develop and apply alignment algorithms that can be utilized in the development of new optical systems based on existing data.
  • To understand and decipher big data formats in the field of Astronomy and Space technology, and analyze the fusion information between data through data visualization.
  • To analyze convergence information between data through data visualization and share research contents through regular team meetings.
  • To investigate the literature related to the development of large-scale optics for Astronomy and Space at home and abroad and share knowledge through research meetings and share relevant knowledge through research meetings.
  • To secure core research data in the field of optomechanics for large optical systems for Astronomy and Space, and acquire sophisticated knowledge of the literature through regular publications.
  • To acquire sophisticated knowledge of references through regular publication of papers, and acquire specialized knowledge through domestic and foreign experts.
  • To participate in optical and optomechanical design research in the field of telescopic optics to understand the techniques implemented in existing telescopes and apply new research methodologies.
  • To understand the technologies implemented in existing telescopes and apply new research methodologies to develop advanced telescopes.

4) Expected Outcomes

  • To understand the domestic and international trends in the development of large-scale advanced reflective optical systems that can be applied to the Astronomical and Space fields.
  • To understand domestic and international trends in the development of large-scale advanced reflective optical systems that can be applied to the astronomical and space fields, and conduct research with global competitiveness.
  • Develop new polishing technologies that can enhance national competitiveness and enable the assembly and alignment of increasingly diverse, large, and complex optical systems.
  • To understand domestic and international trends in large advanced telescope opto-mechanical technologies applicable to astronomy and space, and conduct globally competitive research.
  • It will enable optomechanical design for the development of increasingly diverse, large, and complex optical systems.

2. Prof.  Arman Shafieloo (shafieloo@kasi.re.kr

This project is for a PhD or integrated PhD student.

We are looking for competent and enthusiastic PhD candidates to work on physical cosmology. A successful candidate will become officially involved with international collaborations including DESI* (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) and DESC** (Dark Energy Science Collaboration of Rubin or formerly LSST) and the project will include studying and performing research on different aspects of physical cosmology such as testing early universe scenarios and studying dark energy using large scale structure and other cosmological data. Developing advanced statistical methods of data analysis (data mining, machine learning, artificial intelligence, regression approaches) will be a major part of the research during the PhD project or integrated-PhD.

* Link to DESI survey: https://www.desi.lbl.gov/

** Link to DESC: https://lsstdesc.org/

3. Prof.  Arman Shafieloo (shafieloo@kasi.re.kr),  Prof. Sang-Sung Lee (sslee@kasi.re.kr)

This project is for a PhD or integrated PhD student.

We are looking for competent and enthusiastic PhD candidates to work on refining AGN-based distance ladder with improved accuracy and precision for cosmological applications. The project will be a collaboration between the radio group and cosmology group at KASI. Developing advanced statistical methods of data analysis (data mining, machine learning, artificial intelligence, regression approaches) will be a major part of the research during the PhD project or integrated-PhD.

4. Prof. Yusuke Aso (yaso@kasi.re.kr) 

This project is for a PhD or integrated PhD student.

Our research project focuses on utilizing the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the largest connected interferometer in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. Developed through a global collaboration, ALMA continues to expand its capabilities and scientific reach toward 2030 and beyond. We seek a highly motivated graduate student interested in advancing scientific research using ALMA.

Aims: The primary aim of our project is to investigate the processes of star and planet formation, particularly around low-mass young stellar objects, through observational studies. Our focus is to deepen our understanding of the dynamics during the formation process that includes various types of objects and evolutionary stages from dense cores to planets. Recent observations challenge traditional models, suggesting, for instance, that accreting streamers may influence disk masses even in later stages of evolution. Additionally, a recent survey has indicated that disk substructures, which signal planet formation, might form over a narrower time range than previously thought. This project seeks to identify such physical structures and reveal their roles in the star and planet formation process.

Methods: Targets of observations are protostellar/pre-main-sequence systems, such as infalling envelopes, protostellar/protoplanetary disks, outflows/jets, accreting streamers, and circumplanetary disks. The successful applicant will devote their efforts to identify velocity structures and morphology of observed different components, measure physical quantities (mass, length, density, temperature, etc.) of the identified structure, compare them with those of other young stellar objects as well as theoretical studies, and discuss variation and evolution of each structure, These studies will be achieved by newly observing targets with ALMA and other various radio telescopes, such as VLA, JCMT, TRAO, KVN, as well as using existing observational archival data obtained by these observatories.

Outcomes: The successful applicant is expected to contribute to the field by publishing a series of research papers as the lead author during their integrated PhD program. They will also have opportunities to present their findings at national and international conferences and workshops.

5. Prof.  Thiem Hoang (thiemhoang@kasi.re.kr) 

The Role of Gravity and Magnetic Fields in Cosmic Ecosystems
(Ph.D or Integrated-Ph.D Course)

We seek highly motivated candidates for 2 Ph.D or Integrated Ph.D positions in Theoretical Astrophysics at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, under the supervision of Professor Thiem Hoang. The successful candidate will join our research group to investigate the role of gravity and magnetic fields in the formation of stars, planets, and black holes from interstellar matter (dust and gas); and to study the influence of stellar and black hole feedback on interstellar and circumgalactic matter.  One position will focus on the interstellar medium and star/planet formation, while the other will focus on interstellar medium and black hole growth. Selected candidates will receive comprehensive training in analytical and theoretical methods, numerical modeling, simulations, and data analysis, equipping them for a successful career in astrophysics.

6. Prof. Kee-Tae Kim (ktkim@kasi.re.kr)

This project is for a PhD or integrated PhD student.

Investigating the formation conditions and mechanisms of high-mass stars:

High-mass (higher than 8 solar masses) stars are fundamental in the evolution of galaxies. However, their formation is still poorly understood. This is because they are rare and mostly located distant, they form in clusters in very high-extinction regions, and they form and evolve fast. It is under much debate whether high-mass stars form like low-mass stars. My group’s research focuses on the physical, chemical, dynamical, magnetic field properties of the clouds and cores forming high-mass stars and the characteristics of the disk-outflow systems around very young high-mass stars. We use single-dish radio telescopes (e.g., KVN 21m, JCMT) and radio interferometers (e.g., JVLA, ALMA). We already obtained high-sensitivity, high-angular resolution data for large samples of high-mass stars in formation using ALMA. We are undertaking both various statistical studies for the samples and detailed studies for several interesting sources/groups, together with international collaborators. We aim to investigate the condition, mechanism, and impact of high-mass star formation. We are looking for 1-2 highly motivated PhD or integrated PhD students for this project.

7. Prof. Sung-Hong Park (shpark@kasi.re.kr)

This project is for a PhD or integrated PhD student.

Observational Study on the Driving Mechanism of Solar Flares and CMEs and Their Impacts on Space Weather 

The Sun, the only star in the solar system, continuously supplies matter and energy to the heliosphere through energy accumulation and release processes driven by the generation and evolution of its magnetic field. Various solar magnetic eruptions occur, ranging from jet phenomena in the chromosphere and corona to large-scale events such as solar flares, which involve intense bursts of radiation, and coronal mass ejection (CMEs), which expel magnetic fields and mass from the corona. Despite extensive research, the exact driving mechanisms behind both small-scale eruptions (such as jets) and large-scale events (such as flares and CMEs) remain unresolved, along with the ability to predict their occurrence. While numerical simulations based on the latest theoretical models are actively being conducted, collecting, synthesizing, and interpreting observational data from various perspectives remains a crucial aspect of research. In particular, the ability to comprehensively analyze and interpret high-resolution, multi-wavelength ground-based and satellite observations has become increasingly important. Through the UST Ph.D. or integrated program, students will develop the ability to analyze various high-resolution observational data covering the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. By investigating multiple solar magnetic eruptions from different angles, they will infer the underlying mechanisms of these events and logically interpret the relationship between solar activity and space weather changes. This training aims to cultivate highly skilled researchers in solar physics and space weather fields.