Ian Czekala

Dr. Ian Czekala is a Lecturer in Astrophysics at the University of St Andrews School of Physics and Astronomy. His research investigates planet formation using radio interferometry and machine learning to analyze protoplanetary disk structures and kinematics.

Primary interests include mapping non-Keplerian gas flows in disks with ALMA observations, developing Bayesian inference methods for spectral line imaging, and identifying planet formation signatures in systems like PDS70. Current projects focus on disk-binary alignment dynamics and circumplanetary disk characterization.

PhD opportunities include developing regularized maximum likelihood techniques for ALMA data analysis to study kinematic anomalies potentially caused by forming planets within protoplanetary disks.