Academic CV

Current position

2015- Present: Professor at Cardiff University, ERC Consolidator grant awardee

Education and Previous Employment

2013- 2015: Senior Lecturer
2010 – 2013 – Lecturer
2005 – 2010 – Fixed term Lecturer
2006 – 2008 – Postgraduate Certificate of University Teaching and Learning Diploma qualification awarded
2004 – 2005 – Research Fellowship with the Royal Commission of the Exhibition of 1851
2001 – 2004 – PhD Astrophysics, Cardiff University
1997 – 2001 – MPhys, 1st Class Honours, Cardiff University
1995 – 1997 – A Levels, Barry Sixth Form School
1990 – 1995 – GCSEs, Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School

Professional Activities

2023 - JWST panel reviewer 2017-2019: ESA Astronomy Working Group 2015-2019: STFC Astronomy Grants Panel member
2014: External Examiner PhD Keele University
2014: Examiner at PhD thesis defense in IAS Paris
2013-present: STFC Education, Training and Careers Committee
2012-present: JCMT Time Allocation Committee
2010 – present: STFC panel member, Chair STFC panel
2011-present: STFC Women in SET Focus group
2007-present: Referee for MNRAS, ApJ
2008-present: Referee for Gemini & JCMT proposals
2009-2010: External referee for STFC standard grants and advanced fellowships
2008-present: Fellow of Higher Education Academy
2004-present: Fellow Royal Commission of the Exhibition of 1851
2008-present: Visiting Astronomer for LCOGT
Also: Expert Reviewer for the Royal Astronomical Society awards and thesis prize committee, NASA Postdoctoral Programme (peer review), Royal Astronomical Society Postdoctoral Fellowships, STFC Consolidated grant applications, STFC Fellowships, STFC SPARK award schemes, Swiss Foundation grants, Swiss Foundation fellowships, Gemini, JCMT proposals, journals: MNRAS, ApJ, ApJL, A&A, Nature, Nature Astronomy.

Prizes & Awards

2020 Frances Hoggan Medal, celebrating outstanding research by women in STEMM subjects 2018 Ordinary Member of the British Empire (MBE) 2015 Royal Astronomical Society Fowler Award for early career achievement
2014 Winner of Inspire Wales Awards for most inspirational welsh person in Science and Technology Category*
2005 Runner-up Cavendish medal in Physics, SET for Britian
2005 Shortlisted for Times Higher Young Researcher of the Year
2005 RAS Micheal Penston Astronomy Prize for best UK doctoral thesis in Astronomy and Astrophysics
2004 Research Fellowship, Royal Commission of 1851
2002 Bessie Jones Prize for most outstanding postgraduate of the year
2001 1st Year postgraduate prize for best presentation

Select Grants Awarded

2015-2020 – PI ERC Consolidator Grant CosmicDust (€1.8 million)
2014-2015 – Cardiff University Research Fellowship (£15K)
2014-2015 – PI National Science Academy Wales – Universe in the Classroom
2012-2016 – PI STFC PATT grant
2012 – UK PI for European Grant for (Inspiring Science Education)
2012 – Co-I and individual Case Leader on Astronomy research consolidated grant (PI Gear)
2009-2011 – Co-I on STFC large award grant (PI North)
2010-2012 – Co-I on Astronomy Grant to NASA ADP (PI Rho)
2007-2010 – Co-I STFC Astronomy research rolling grant (PI Eales)
2004-2006 – personal post-doctoral Research Fellowship with the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851

Supervision of PhD Students

present co-supervisor Holly Davies, Cardiff University 2021 Jeni Millard, Cardiff University 2021 Hannah Chawner, Cardiff University 2017 Rosie Beeston, Cardiff University 2016 Simon Schofield, Cardiff University
2014 Chris Clark, Cardiff University 2013 Kate Rowlands, Nottingham University, co-supervised
2012 Matthew Smith, Cardiff University, co-supervised

Select Teaching Roles

present - Module Organiser Data Analysis, Yr 4 module, MSc module 2011 – 2016 Module Organizer Astrophysics Lab (20 credits)
2013 – 2015 Head of Undergraduate Observatory
2009 – 2010 Module Organizer Gregynog MPhys residential course
2009 – present Deputy Module Organizer for Universe (Year 1), Quantum Mechanics (Year 2), Galaxies (Year 3), Interstellar Medium (Year 4), Early Universe (Year 4)
2005 – present Supervisor MPhys project students
2005 – present Supervisor BSc project students including introduction of a new project for future teachers
2005 – present Module Organizer Physical Cosmology 3rd Year module
2005 – present Module Organizer Cosmos, 1st Year Module (+free standing)
2007-2010 Module Organizer Physics of Stars, 2nd Year Module
2005 – 2006 Module Organizer Planetary Systems, 2nd Yr Module

Management Roles

2022 - present Deputy Head of School 2013 – 2014 Line manager for three outreach staff 2014 – 2015 PI of National outreach project
2012 – present Chair of Outreach Committee
2012 – present Head of Public Engagement and Outreach
2012 – present Course Committee
2014 – present School Board Member

Career Breaks

2018 - Parental leave