Chris Collins

Biography

I am Professor of Cosmology within the Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) of LJMU and currently Institute Director. I have a long established record in collaborative research with institutes worldwide. My research covers topics in observational cosmology focussing on studies of the evolution of galaxies and cluster of galaxies over cosmic time and their large-scale distribution in space. These interests probe theories of how galaxies develop from seed density perturbations in the very early Universe and also provide constraints on cosmological parameters such as the amount of dark matter and dark energy. Much of my work involves the publication and analyses of large astronomical surveys and is externally funded with PDRA and PhD student support by the Science and Technology Research Council. I have supervised around 20 PhD students, many of whom are career astronomers. In 2009 I was a recipient of the Royal Astronomical Society Group Achievement Award (as part of the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey Team). My current projects focus on the baryonic content of clusters and analysis of the Brightest Galaxies from the eROSITA satellite (due for launch in January 2016) through ARI's participation in SDSS-IV. I have represented LJMU at international and national level on boards and committees of leading organisations and agencies such as NASA, ESA and STFC. I regularly give outreach talks to widen the subject’s popularity amongst the public. Recently, these have included: Heswall Science and Arts Festival; West Kirby Grammar School for Girls; University of the Third Age; various astronomical and other societies, cubs, scouts and church groups.

Research Interest

Astrophysics