CV
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Summary
I am a postdoctoral researcher specialising in Bayesian statistical analysis on big data, working in WEAVE-LOFAR My main interests are reverberation mapping and the interface between star-forming galaxies and AGN. I have worked with a diverse range of data including the latest releases from the LOFAR, SDSS, HST, WISE, and H-ATLAS surveys as well as the Horizon-AGN simulations. My latest work combines the use of novel statistical Bayesian analysis with these large datasets in order to facilitate effective exploitation of the next generation of surveys.
Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, FRAS
Member of the European Astronomical Society, EAS
Member of the Euclid Consortium, EC
Research Interests
- Star-formation: LOFAR, FIR, empirical relations, FIRC, MagPhys, SFG-AGN interface.
- Reverberation mapping: High redshift, photometric techniques, \(t_{lag}-L_{5100}\), selection biases.
- Big data & Bayesian analysis: Large surveys, advanced Bayesian statistical inference, bias mitigation.
Experience
Postdoc
University of Nottingham, Jul 2020 - Present
WEAVE-LOFAR QAG & galaxy evolution
- Plan and conduct independent research using the WEAVE data
- Develop WEAVE MOS spectroscopic analysis software
- Leading the Quality Assurance Group (QAG) of WEAVE-LOFAR data
Postdoc
Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma - INAF, Oct 2019 - Jun 2020
Galaxy shape measures in Euclid
- Quantifying the colour-gradient bias in Euclid weak-lensing measurements
- Generation of realistic galaxy catalogues
- Hubble image reduction
Ph.D.
University of Hertfordshire, Oct 2015 - Oct 2019
Supervisor: Dr Daniel J.B. Smith
Thesis: Measuring the Physical Properties of Distant Galaxies and Black Holes in the Era of Surveys
- Studying the relation between the star-formation rate and radio luminosity of galaxies.
- Using new photometric time-series techniques to estimate quasar black-hole masses with reverberation mapping.
- Innovating new Bayesian methods to infer complete distributions from incomplete, noisy data in order to mitigate observational bias and explore large datasets.
Observing
William Herschel Telescope, La Palma, Jun 2016 -
Programming teaching assistant & tutor
University of Hertfordshire, UK, Jan 2016 - Present
- Taught students Python and Matlab for scientific programming courses.
- Ran code review sessions for post-graduates and Ph.D. students.
- Lead programming lectures and demonstrations.
‘Physics of stars’ demonstrator
University of Hertfordshire, UK, Nov 2016 - Mar 2017
- Assisted students at the Bayfordbury teaching observatory.
- Instructed in the use of 16-inch telescopes and the reduction of data.
- Projects included PNe imaging and constructing open cluster HR-diagrams.
Summer Student
National Physical Laboratory, UK, Jun 2013 - Aug 2013
Supervisor: Dr Alastair Sinclair
- Worked with the Time & Frequency Team.
- Analysed Gaussian beam quality for the strontium ion optical clock group.
- Developed analytical Matlab code and the optical bench setup required.
Insight Analyst
Linkdex, UK, Jul 2014 - Jul 2015
Processing big data from raw consumer search patterns to an explanative format suitable for client business strategies.
- Big data processing with Python & sci-kit learn
- Communication with the backend team
- API design, visualisation, and automation development.
Education
Ph.D., Astronomy
University of Hertfordshire, UK, 2015 - 2019
Passed viva w/ minor corrections
MPhys, Physics
Durham University, UK, 2010 - 2014
2:1 with Honours
Publications
Submitted and in preparation
- On the causes of the mass dependency of the star-formation rate – radio luminosity relation with LOFAR, Horizon-AGN, and CANDID, Read, S.; Smith, D.; Gürkan, G.; Hardcastle, M.; et al. - in prep.
- Bias and accretion rate dependency in the reverberation-mapped lag-luminosity relation, Read, S.; Smith, D.; et al. - in prep.
- Low mass stars and multiple systems in Gaia, González-Egea, E.; Pinfield, D.; Read, S.; et al. - in prep.
Presentations
- European Week of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Liverpool, UK
European Astronomical Society, EAS
poster - National Astronomy Meeting, University of Hull, UK
Royal Astronomical Society, RAS
contributed talk - National Astronomy Meeting, University of Nottingham, UK
Royal Astronomical Society, RAS
contributed talk, poster - The Cosmic FIR Landscape with H-ATLAS, University of Lisbon, Portugal
H-ATLAS consortium
contributed talk