Bachelor Thesis Projects
Dark Energy: Constraining cosmological models with extra spatial dimensions with Type Ia Supernovae Data
What is driving the accelerated expansion of our Universe — dark energy or new physics beyond Einstein’s gravity? In this Bachelor thesis project, you will build your own Python-based cosmology pipeline and confront theoretical models with real Type Ia supernova data. Starting from the standard ΛCDM model, you will perform parameter estimation and then explore more exotic scenarios such as modified gravity models. You will work with professional datasets like Union 2.1 and Pantheon+, using the same statistical tools applied in modern cosmological research. If you want to combine physics, data analysis, and scientific programming in a hands-on research project, this thesis is for you.
Find out more on the Bachelor Thesis Pages of LMU Physics here. (enrollment key: LMUPhysik_Abschlussarbeiten)
Master Thesis Projects
The Physical Cosmology Group offers a range of Master thesis projects on some of the most exciting questions in modern cosmology. At the heart of our research are some of the deepest mysteries in physics: the nature of dark matter and dark energy, the origin of the primordial fluctuations that gave rise to cosmic structure, and the processes that shaped the evolution of the Universe. Our topics include the large-scale structure of the Universe, galaxy clusters, cosmic voids, Fast Radio Bursts, reionization, real-time cosmology, and new statistical and simulation-based inference methods. These projects are closely linked to current research and can be tailored toward theoretical, numerical, or data-oriented work, depending on your background and interests. Students will engage with modern cosmological methods, including analytical modelling, simulations, Bayesian inference, scientific programming in Python, and, in some projects, modern AI and machine-learning techniques. The aim is not only to study a specific scientific problem, but also to develop the skills and research experience needed for independent work at the research frontier. Our projects are particularly well suited for students who enjoy quantitative thinking and want to combine physics with computation, statistics, and data analysis. They provide strong preparation for PhD-level research in cosmology, astrophysics, and related data-driven fields. Please see the Moodle pages for details on the individual projects. (enrollment key: LMUPhysik_Abschlussarbeiten)