A new path into astronomy and physics research
A lab needs what you can do. You just need a way in. Real projects. Real outputs. Real credit.
How it works
There are more people ready to do research than there are seats to do it in. Every lab we work with has open questions and not enough people to answer them. Rakiura closes that gap.
Apply
Tell us what draws you to astrophysics research. We screen for curiosity and commitment, not credentials. Rolling admission.
Get matched
After a short pitch call we place you in a lab and on a project that fits your skills and interests. The match is a conversation, not an assignment.
Do the work
Work through structured milestones alongside PI-led teams. Your contributions are verified, credited, and count toward your research profile.
Every researcher grows through the same arc, from first steps in a lab to setting a scientific direction of your own. That progression is the Rakiura Research Path.
Who this is for
This is for you if you can do the work and want a place to do it.
You come from CS, math, physics, statistics, or engineering, and space has always pulled at you.
You have the skill and the will to do research, but no lab within reach.
Maybe your career took you out of research and you still carry the questions. Maybe there was never a lab near enough to walk into.
We screen for curiosity and commitment, not credentials.
Labs on Rakiura
A growing group of working research labs. Members work alongside the scientists leading them.
Researchers on Rakiura
The scientists leading the labs. Members work directly alongside them.
From the labs
Real research from the labs, in audio. Free episodes from the people doing the work.
Morning Star Missions to VenusS1E1: Beautiful DeceiverVenus is the brightest object in our night sky after the Sun and Moon, a dazzling beacon that captivated humanity for millennia and inspired some of our…12m
Gravitational Wave Paleontology LabS1E1: The Dinosaurs of the UniverseThe first gravitational wave detection lasted two tenths of a second and arrived from a collision 1.3 billion light years away.23m
Project StarshadeS1E1: Ten Billion to OneWe've found more than six thousand planets around other stars, and almost none of them have we ever actually seen.24m
Limits of HabitabilityS1E1: The ZoneThree rocky planets orbit our Sun in the region where liquid water could exist, but only one of them is alive.16m
A technical community working on real astrophysics research alongside real scientists, wherever you are in your career.
Explore Research ProjectsWork alongside active researchers in the field and contribute to real science.
Rakiura community research members work on real open problems in astrophysics, alongside the scientists leading the labs. You learn astrophysics skills, your contributions are verified and credited, and you find a community of technically curious people who take the work as seriously as you do.
Real research
PI-led projects with real open problems, data, and milestones. Not crowdsourced tasks.
Verified credit
Your contributions are verified by the PI or Lead Researcher and recorded on your member profile. Certificates issued per project.
A community that takes it seriously
Engineers, data scientists, and science communicators alongside astrophysicists. Curiosity and commitment are the bar, not credentials.
Frequently asked questions
What happens after I apply?
You tell us about your background and what interests you. If it looks like a fit, you talk with the lab. Once you join, you complete onboarding and we match you to a project.
Can I join at any time?
Yes. Admission is rolling and onboarding is self-paced.
Do I need a PhD or research background?
No. Members come from engineering, data, software, and communication backgrounds, whether they want a research career or just want to do the work. An academic record may place you higher on the ladder at entry, but progression is open to everyone.
Do I need to be able to code?
For some projects. Others are analysis, writing, or science communication. We match you to work that fits what you can do.
What do I actually work on?
Open research problems from the labs on Rakiura: simulations, catalogues, analysis, software, science communication. Real work, not a simplified exercise.
How do I progress?
Four rungs, from Community Researcher to Lead Researcher. Everyone starts as a Community Researcher and advances by what they deliver.
Still have questions?
Get in touch with our team.