Biography:Tim O'Brien (physicist)

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Short description: British astronomer
Tim O'Brien
Tim on stage at Jodrell Bank Live in 2011
Born
Timothy John O'Brien

(1964-03-31) 31 March 1964 (age 60)
Alma materUniversity College London (BSc)
University of Manchester (PhD)
Known forMulti-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN)[1]
Bluedot Festival
Spouse(s)Teresa Anderson[2]
AwardsKelvin Prize (2014)
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of Manchester
Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics
Liverpool John Moores University
ThesisA model for the remnant of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi (1985) (1990)
Websiteproftimobrien.com

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.[3][4]

Early life and education

He was born in Littleborough, Greater Manchester. He grew up in Castleton, Greater Manchester in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale.[5] He attended school in Rochdale.[2] He studied Physics and Astrophysics at University College London and completed his PhD at the University of Manchester between 1985 and 1988.

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[when?] 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 to 2015, he taught the first year undergraduate course in Astrophysics.[6]

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.[7][8]

Personal life

O'Brien is married to Professor Teresa Anderson (born 1 December 1962).[9] He lived for a time[when?] in Macclesfield[citation needed] and currently[when?] lives in south Manchester.[citation needed] He has a younger sister (born 1965) and a younger brother (born 1967).[citation needed]

References

Academic offices
Preceded by
Professor of Astrophysics at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester
-
Succeeded by
Incumbent