About
I am a PhD student at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, working on the physics of black holes and gravitational waves. My research centres on quasinormal modes — the characteristic oscillations emitted as a black hole settles following a merger — studied through numerical relativity simulations. More broadly I am interested in science at the intersection of theory and observation. This includes black holes, gravity, cosmology, fundamental physics, and the philosophy of science.
Recently my work has focused on the identification of quasinormal modes in high-accuracy Cauchy-characteristic evolved numerical relativity waveforms, using Bayesian inference and a Gaussian process uncertainty model. I am expanding this analysis beyond quasinormal modes, investigating the presence of power-law tails, and prompt response in the post-merger signal.
Alongside research, I take part in a variety of public engagement activities. Most notably, I am a regular writer for PBS Space Time, a YouTube channel with over three million subscribers. The scripts I have pitched and written have collectively received nearly 10 million views. I also write popular science articles, give public talks, and produce video content for a combined social media audience of approximately 80,000.
My work has featured on StarTalk Radio with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cheltenham Science Festival, BBC Radio 4's Curious Cases, Cambridge University social media, the Cavendish physics audio tour, and Cambridge Festival. In addition, I have collaborated with selected external partners including Taskade and Netflix.
In 2024, I was awarded the FameLab UK audience prize, chosen from a field of more than four hundred entrants. As part of the process, I recieved science communication and media training. I have also trained with London's Free Association improvisation school, and have starred in two award-winning short films, one of which I co-wrote.
