Star formation and variability in M33 and other spiral galaxies

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The nearest spiral galaxies in particular provide the exciting new opportunity of bridging the gap between star formation processes on large galactic-wide scales and on the small scales of individual young stellar objects (so far only possible in the nearby Magellanic Clouds, which are quite different from the Milky Way). The project starts with the identification of Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) in the nearby spiral galaxy M33. Our exquisite near-infrared data obtained with the UKIRT telescope, in combination with existing mid-infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope, will allow a student to develop photometric techniques for the identification of such objects, building on Dr. Oliveira's experience in this area. Since these data offer multi-epoch observations, a motivated student will be able to study variability of massive YSOs, in order to probe the accretion process, similar to studies conducted in the Milky Way (VVV survey) and the Magellanic Clouds (VMC). The launch of JWST in Spring 2019 will offer the opportunity to extend such photometric studies to other spiral galaxies.