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Professor Chris Power is a computational astrophysicist whose research focuses on dark matter and galaxy formation. Using powerful supercomputers, he simulates model universes, following the assembly of galaxies and their evolution from the Big Bang to the present day.

Chris' current work splits between modelling powerful winds from growing black holes and the impact these winds have on galaxy assembly, and investigating how satellite galaxies around the Milky Way might be used to test theories of dark matter and dark energy. He also works closely with a number of Australian-led galaxy survey teams, most notably the SAMI galaxy survey -- which exploits world-leading technology on the Anglo Australian Telescope -- and the WALLABY and DINGO surveys, which will map atomic hydrogen gas in galaxies using the next-generation Australian SKA Pathfinder radio telescope.

Experience

  • 2014–present
    Research Professor, University of Western Australia
  • 2011–2014
    Research Associate Professor, University of Western Australia
  • 2008–2011
    Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Leicester
  • 2004–2007
    Postdoctoral Research Associate, Swinburne University of Technology

Education

  • 2003 
    Durham University, Ph.D. in Computational Astrophysics
  • 1999 
    Trinity College Dublin, B.A. in Theoretical Physics

Research Areas

  • Cosmology And Extragalactic Astronomy (020103)

Honours

ARC Future Fellow (2014-)