CV

Academic Highlights

• First author of 3 papers and co-author on 5 other papers

• Awarded a place on the prestigious ESO Studentship programme

• Successfully awarded telescope time as PI with proposals for APEX and NOEMA

• Written 10+ press releases for the European Southern Observatory and ESA/Hubble

• Key skills/expertise: AGN feedback; Galaxy gas structures; Resolved and un-resolved galaxy sub-mm emission line analysis; Reduction/analysis of APEX, ALMA and NOEMA data; Analysing Optical and Radio Survey data

Academic roles

The University of Southampton - postdoc position in the high-z quasar group led by Dr. Manda Banerji, 04 September - present

Education

Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) - Liverpool John Moores University & The European Southern Observatory - Astrophysics PhD, 01 October 2019 - August 2023.

The University of Nottingham - MSci Physics with Astronomy 2:1, 2013–2017.

Bolton School Boys’ Division - A Levels: Mathematics (A), Economics (A), Physics (B); GCSE’s: 11 (3 A*s and 8 As), 2006–2013.

Research Experience

• ESO Studentship: PhD - 15 October 2020 - 14 October 2022

The impact of AGN on the molecular gas properties of quasar host galaxies: The aim of this project is to build a complete characterisation of the link between specific outflow and jet  properties and their impact on the ISM of the host galaxies. To achieve this goal, I am analysing the molecular gas properties of an unbiased sample of 17 Type 2 quasars at z<0.2. The sample (from The Quasar Feedback Survey) covers the full range in outflow and radio properties seen in quasars, which have been characterised by multifrequency radio observations and IFU observations. Using ACA CO(1-0) data and APEX CO(2-1) and CO(3-2) alongside the complementary multi-wavelength data will help us to obtain a full understanding of the physical processes ongoing in these systems such as star formation rates and interactions between jets/outflows and ionised/molecular gas. Supervisors: Dr. Gabriela Calistro Rivera & Dr. Carlos de Breuck

• ARI (Liverpool John Moores University): PhD - 01 October 2019 - 31 July 2023: 

Characterising galactic feedback through sub-mm observations at the Epoch of Reionisation: I am studying rest-frame UV selected galaxies in the first billion years of cosmic time (z>6.5) with sub-millimetre observatoriesusing in-hand NOEMA and ALMA data-sets (PI: Smit). I am leading various analyses, including line-scanningdistant galaxies for redshift determinations, studying their structure and size and investigating the presence of extended low-luminosity gas associated with galactic feedback. Supervisor: Dr. Renske Smit and Prof. Steve Longmore

• ESO: Undergraduate Research Internship - 01 November 2018 - 28 February 2019: 

How do AGN impact upon their galaxies? I led a project looking into the role of growing supermassive black holes on the formation of galaxies using data from radio and spectroscopic surveys. I found a relationship between the prevalence of extreme ionised outflows and the size and morphology of the radio emission. This work resulted in a paper published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics (Molyneux et al. 2019) as well as contribution and co-authorship on Jarvis et al. 2019. Supervisor: Dr. Chris Harrison.

• The University of Nottingham: Undergraduate Masters Project - 2016–2017: 

Measuring Galaxy Environments in Full-Physics Cluster Simulations: This project involved creating and testing measures of galactic environment in simulation data, including both the global dynamical state of the structure,and the instantaneous local environment. During the project I developed a piece of code that measured the large scale structure within the simulation data. Supervisor: Dr. Meghan Gray.

Seminars and conference talks

• University of Southampton seminar 2023 - Invited seminar talk - ”Do quasars impact the molecular ISM of their host galaxy?”

• University of Nottingham Lunch Talk 2023 - Invited Lunch talk - ”Do quasars impact the molecular ISM of their host galaxy?”

• APEX2023 – Schloss Ringberg, January 2023 – Contributed talk – ”Do quasars impact the molecular ISM of their host galaxy?”

• Lyman-X Day – MPA/ESO Garching, October 2022 – Contributed talk – ”Spectroscopic confirmation of a gravitationally lensed Lyman-break galaxy at z[CII] = 6.827 using NOEMA”

• Multiphase AGN Feeding & Feeding 2 - Sesto June 2022 – Contributed talk - "The impact of AGN on the molecular gas properties of quasar host galaxies"

• TMT talk European Southern Observatory (Chile) June 2022 - Invited talk - "The impact of AGN on the molecular gas properties of quasar host galaxies"

• PUC IA Colloquia May 2022 - Invited Talk - "The impact of AGN on the molecular gas properties of quasar host galaxies"

• Quasars and Galaxies through Cosmic Time --  Virtual,  January 2022 - Poster and flash talk - ''The role of molecular gas in quasar feedback''

• YERAC (Young European Radio Astronomers Conference) 2021 - Contributed Talk - "The Role of Molecular Gas in Quasar Feedback" 

• European Astronomical Society Annual (Virtual) Meeting 2020: Contributed Talk - "A detection of [CII] in a brightly lensed galaxy in the Epoch of Reionisation"

• European Astronomical Society Annual (Virtual) Meeting 2020: Contributed Talk - "Extreme ionised outflows are more common when the radio emission is compact in AGN host galaxies"

Public Outreach and Science Communication Experience

• ESO Science Communication Internship From March - September 2018 I completed a science communication internship at ESO. I worked on the preparation of ESO and ESA/Hubble news and press releases, publications, video scripts and other public communication products. I learned how to write in a scientifically accurate way that was also engaging for the public. This has enhanced my ability to communicate complex scientific content in a way that is easy to understand for those who don’t necessarily have a scientific background. This also gave me great experience of working in an astronomical institute as well as an insight into the inner workings of the organisation and the procedures that allow ESO to run as smoothly as possible. This experience inspired me to spend research time at ESO.

• ESO Supernova - During my science communication and research internships I volunteered at ESO's Planetarium and Visitor centre to provide tours for the visitors and to help in the general running of the centre.

• ARI Outreach Committee - I am a member of the Outreach Committee at the ARI where I help to organise/run outreach events within the ARI alongside the National Schools Observatory.

• Manchester/Bradford Science Festivals 2018/2019 - I gave demonstrations at the 2018 & 2019 Manchester & Bradford Science Festivals to members of the public about ESO, its telescopes and astronomy in general.

• Physics Ambassador at Bolton School - I was part of a team of Physics Ambassadors during my final two years at Bolton School, helping to organise and run events such as the lunchtime physics club and two Physics Olympics held at Bolton School, where other schools came to compete in various Physics based challenges.

Observing Experience

• APEX: For 2 weeks in May 2022 I was observing as an astronomer at the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment Telescope (APEX) in Chile.

Technical Skills

• Programming (Python/Matlab) 

  • 3+ years experience in Python used for my research project at ESO and my current PhD work. 

  • 4+ years experience using Matlab used for various projects/modules throughout my time at university.

• Catalogues/Surveys/Astronomical Data

  • Experience using various astronomical surveys and catalogues (FIRST, NVSS, SDSS) during my research project at ESO as well as handling data from NOEMA as part of my PhD.

• Software (TOPCAT, DS9, QFitsView, LaTeX, GILDAS)

  • Experience using TOPCAT to manipulate large datasets and DS9/QFitsView to look at astronomical images. 

  • Used LaTeX to write documents including scientific papers and project reports.

  • Basic understanding of CASA and GILDAS

• Other 

  • Used html to write and maintain webpages for ESO. 

  • Extensive use of Microsoft Office and a basic understanding of video editing (Movie Maker and YouTube).

Other Skills and Experience

• Student Representative at ESO - For one year I was student representative at ESO. The role involved making sure that any issues/concerns raised by the students were passed onto the relevant members of staff and that the students were also made aware of all the help and guidance on offer either from the institute, relevant staff members or even myself.

• ESO Scientific Assistant - I assisted at ESO's Observing Programmes Committee, where time is allocated on ESO's telescopes. This was a great opportunity to witness the selection process and what makes a good proposal.

• ARI PhD Taskforce - I am a member of the PhD Taskforce at the ARI with the aim of helping to recruit new PhD students and improving the recruitment process as a whole.

• Mentoring - In my third year at University I volunteered to mentor a group of first year physics students. This meant effective communication was required with the students and their personal tutor. The aim was to create a smooth transition between secondary school and University for the students.

Examples of media experience

Co-host of ESO Virtual Tour – International Day of Women and Girls in Science: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqf4VTC48x8&t=0s

Examples of writing experience

Stellar Corpse Reveals Origin of Radioactive Molecules: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1826/

SPHERE Reveals Fascinating Zoo of Discs Around Young Stars: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1811/

Colourful Celestial Landscape: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1823/

Through the Hourglass: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1841a/

ALMA spies a new planetary nursery: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1827a/

A Brilliant New Supernova Shines Over Munich: https://www.eso.org/public/blog/new-supernova-over-munich/

ESOcast 161 Light: Distant galaxy reveals very early star formation: https://www.eso.org/public/videos/eso1815a/

ESOcast 186: Engineers at ESO: https://www.eso.org/public/videos/esocast186a/