What is your position or role in the DESI project?
I am a third year PhD student at Durham University, working on red quasars within the Galaxy Quasar Physics working group. Quasars are high redshift objects that tend to be very blue, but there is a small but important subset that show much redder colours (“red quasars”). Our group at Durham are very interested in these red quasars because we have found fundamental differences in the radio properties of red quasars, compared to their blue counterparts. We are excited to explore reddened quasars within DESI.
Where were you born?
I was born in Yorkshire in the UK, but grew up down South in in Berkshire so never got the accent!
Where do you live now?
I now live in Durham UK, close to the University. Durham is a beautiful city and I love walking by the river.
What do you as part of DESI?
Within DESI I am studying the diversity of quasars and in particular dust-reddened quasars. I have a secondary target program that has been targeting reddened quasars that may have otherwise been missed by the nominal QSO selection. I am also a member of the ECS committee within DESI. The ECS committee organises monthly ECS meetings and plans pre-meeting ECS activities such as networking events and data tutorials.
What is the most interesting or exciting thing about DESI ?
I love being connected to people within the collaboration from all over the world. I have already learnt so much from being part of DESI and have met so many interesting people. In my work I enjoy exploring new datasets, trying to make connections and understanding new results. I particularly enjoy looking at different exotic quasar systems that DESI has been observing such as broad absorption line quasars and reddened quasars.
Any advice for an aspiring scientist?
Never give up and never think you are not good enough. Sometimes you might wonder whether there is an easier path than academia, but ask yourself if there is anything as enjoyable as exploring the Universe!
What do you do for fun?
I like going to the pub with my friends—and Durham is not short on great pubs! I also enjoy giving public science talks and going to music festivals.
