Tim O'Brien (physicist)
Tim O'Brien | |
|---|---|
| Born | Timothy John O'Brien March 31, 1964 |
| Alma mater | University College London (BSc) University of Manchester (PhD) |
| Known for | Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN)[3] |
| Awards | Kelvin Prize (2014) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Manchester Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics Liverpool John Moores University |
| Thesis | A model for the remnant of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi (1985) (1990) |
| Doctoral advisor | Franz Daniel Kahn[1][2] |
| Website | proftimobrien |
Timothy John O'Brien (born 31 March 1964) is a British astronomer, currently working at the University of Manchester as Professor of Astrophysics. He often appears on the BBC.[4][5]
Early life and education
He was born in Littleborough, Greater Manchester. He grew up in Castleton, Greater Manchester in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale.[6] He has a younger sister (born 1965) and a younger brother (born 1967). He attended school in Rochdale.[7] He studied Physics and Astrophysics at University College London. He studied for a PhD at the University of Manchester from 1985-88.
Career and research
He taught at the University of Liverpool in the 1990s.[citation needed] He began working at the University of Manchester in 1999 where he is currently Associate Director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. He is also Director of Teaching & Learning in the University's School of Physics & Astronomy. From 2009-2015, he taught the first year undergraduate course in Astrophysics.[8]
His research is primarily in the area of novae (thermonuclear explosions on white dwarf stars in binary star systems) and includes both theoretical work and observations using telescopes around the world and in space working across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Broadcasting
He has appeared on Stargazing Live on BBC Two and The Infinite Monkey Cage on BBC Radio 4.[9][10]
Personal life
He is married to Professor Teresa Anderson (born 1 December 1962).[11] He lived for a time in Macclesfield. He lives in south Manchester.
References
- ^ Dyson, James E.; Lynden Bell, Donald (1999). "Franz Daniel Kahn. 13 May 1926 -- 8 February 1998: Elected F.R.S. 1993". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 45 (0): 255–267. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1999.0017. ISSN 0080-4606.
- ^ Tim O'Brien at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
- ^ Healy, F.; O'Brien, T. J.; Beswick, R. (2016). "eMERLIN imaging of γ-ray nova V959 Mon's surprising evolution". Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 728: 042002. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/728/4/042002. ISSN 1742-6588.
- ^ Newsround February 2016
- ^ BBC Inside Science February 2016
- ^ Rochdale January 2014
- ^ Cheshire Magazine August 2016
- ^ Astrophysics
- ^ EuroScience Open Forum 2016
- ^ Newsround February 2017
- ^ Wife
External links
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- 1964 births
- Academics of the University of Liverpool
- Academics of the University of Manchester
- Alumni of the University of Manchester
- Alumni of University College London
- British astrophysicists
- British people of Irish descent
- English astronomers
- English physicists
- Jodrell Bank Observatory
- People from the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
- Science communicators
- Living people