Biography
I was born in Porto, Portugal where I also studied for my undergraduate and masters degree. My PhD research was performed at the European Space Agency in the Netherlands and I received my degree in Astrophysics from the University of Porto in 2001. My thesis topic was stellar variability both on young and evolved stars. From 2001 to 2009 I was a post-doctoral research assistant in the Astrophysics Group. I have been a lecturer since 2009, and senior lecturer since 2018.
Research and scholarship
My main topic of research is Star Formation, in particularly the impact of the environment on the formation of stars. A significant fraction of my research is dedicated to investigate the effects of metallicity (or metal content) on the early stages of stellar evolution, concentrating on the Magellanic Clouds, our nearest templates for low-metallicity environments. I am also studying young stellar populations in other spiral galaxies in the Local Group. I am involved in several large international surveys using state of the art instrumentation: SMCSAGE, SAGE-IRS and SMC-Spec with the Spitzer Space Telescope, VMC, a VISTA survey, The Herschel Space Observatory, ALMA - Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array etc.
Teaching
Year 1
- Problem classes
- Second semester modules: Electricity and Stellar structure and Introduction to Astronomy and Stellar Structure
Year 2
- First semester module: Optics and Thermodynamics
- Astro lab (2nd semester)
Selected Publications
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The VMC survey. XLV. Proper motion of the outer LMC and the impact of the SMC. Astronomy and Astrophysics. link> doi> link> full text>
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The VMC survey - XLVI. Stellar proper motions in the centre of the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 5423-5439, vol. 512(4). link> doi> full text>2022.
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The VMC survey - XLVII. Turbulence-controlled hierarchical star formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1196-1213, vol. 512(1). link> doi> full text>2022.
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The VMC survey - XLIV: mapping metallicity trends in the large magellanic cloud using near-infrared passbands. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 4752-4763, vol. 507(4). link> doi> full text>2021.
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The VMC survey - XLIII. The spatially resolved star formation history across the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 245-266, vol. 508(1). link> doi> full text>2021.
Full Publications Listshow
Books
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van LJT and Oliveira JM (Eds.). 2009. The Magellanic System: Stars, Gas, and Galaxies. (vol. 256). CUP.
Journal Articles
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The VMC survey. XLV. Proper motion of the outer LMC and the impact of the SMC. Astronomy and Astrophysics. link> doi> link> full text>
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The VMC survey - XLVI. Stellar proper motions in the centre of the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 5423-5439, vol. 512(4). link> doi> full text>2022.
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The VMC survey - XLVII. Turbulence-controlled hierarchical star formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1196-1213, vol. 512(1). link> doi> full text>2022.
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The VMC survey - XLIV: mapping metallicity trends in the large magellanic cloud using near-infrared passbands. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 4752-4763, vol. 507(4). link> doi> full text>2021.
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The VMC survey - XLIII. The spatially resolved star formation history across the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 245-266, vol. 508(1). link> doi> full text>2021.
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Massive young stellar objects in the Local Group irregular galaxy NGC 6822 identified using machine learning. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 5106-5131, vol. 507(4). link> doi> full text>2021.
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The ASKAP-EMU Early Science Project: 888 MHz radio continuum survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 3540-3559, vol. 506(3). link> doi> link> full text>2021.
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The VMC Survey - XL. Three-dimensional structure of the Small Magellanic Cloud as derived from red clump stars. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 2983-2997, vol. 504(2). link> doi> full text>2021.
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Stellar substructures in the periphery of the magellanic clouds with the VISTA hemisphere survey from the red clump and other tracers. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. doi> link> full text>2021.
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The VMC Survey - XLII. Near-infrared period-luminosity relations for RR Lyrae stars and the structure of the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1-15, vol. 504(1). link> doi> full text>2021.
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The VMC survey – XLI. Stellar proper motions within the Small Magellanic Cloud. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2859-2878, vol. 502(2). doi> link> full text>2021.
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The intrinsic reddening of the Magellanic Clouds as traced by background galaxies - II. The Small Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 993-1004, vol. 499(1). link> doi> full text>2020.
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The VMC survey XXXVIII. Proper motion of the Magellanic Bridge. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, Article ARTN A134, vol. 641. link> doi> full text>2020.
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The VMC survey - XXXIX. Mapping metallicity trends in the Small Magellanic Cloud using near-infrared passbands. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 3746-3760, vol. 497(3). link> doi> full text>2020.
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The VMC Survey XXXVII. Pulsation periods of dust-enshrouded AGB stars in the Magellanic Clouds. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, Article ARTN A48, vol. 636. link> doi> full text>2020.
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The VMC survey - XXXVI. Young stellar variability in the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 458-486, vol. 494(1). link> doi> full text>2020.
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Structural and Dynamical Analysis of 0.1 pc Cores and Filaments in the 30 Doradus-10 Giant Molecular Cloud. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, Article ARTN 56, vol. 888(2). link> doi> full text>2020.
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The VMC survey - XXXV. model fitting of LMC Cepheid light curves. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 4975-4984, vol. 490(4). link> doi> full text>2019.
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Herschel spectroscopy of Massive Young Stellar Objects in the Magellanic Clouds★. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. doi> full text>2019.
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The ASKAP EMU Early Science Project: radio continuum survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1202-1219, vol. 490(1). link> doi> full text>2019.
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The VMC survey - XXXIV. Morphology of stellar populations in the Magellanic Clouds. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1076-1093, vol. 490(1). link> doi> full text>2019.
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Complex Organic Molecules in Star-Forming Regions of the Magellanic Clouds. ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY, 2088-2109, vol. 3(10). link> doi> full text>2019.
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The intrinsic reddening of the Magellanic Clouds as traced by background galaxies - I. The bar and outskirts of the Small Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 3200-3217, vol. 489(3). link> doi> full text>2019.
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Identification of Herbig Ae/Be Stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, Article ARTN 147, vol. 878(2). link> doi> full text>2019.
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X-ray powder diffraction study of the stability of clathrate hydrates in the presence of salts with relevance to the Martian cryosphere. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, 304-315, vol. 245. link> doi> full text>2019.
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The VMC Survey XXXII. Pre-main-sequence populations in the Large Magellanic Cloud. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, Article ARTN A143, vol. 620. link> doi> full text>2018.
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XXX. Stellar proper motions in the central parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, Article ARTN L8, vol. 613. link> doi> full text>2018.
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The VMC survey - XXXI: The spatially resolved star formation history of the main body of the Small Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 5017-5036, vol. 478(4). link> doi> full text>2018.
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The VMC survey XXVIII. Improved measurements of the proper motion of the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, Article ARTN A115, vol. 612. link> doi> full text>2018.
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The VMC Survey. XXIX. Turbulence-controlled Hierarchical Star Formation in the Small Magellanic Cloud. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, Article ARTN 31, vol. 858(1). link> doi> full text>2018.
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The Detection of Hot Cores and Complex Organic Molecules in the Large Magellanic Cloud. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, Article ARTN L19, vol. 853(2). link> doi> full text>2018.
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The VMC survey - XXV. The 3D structure of the Small Magellanic Cloud from Classical Cepheids. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 808-827, vol. 472(1). link> doi> full text>2017.
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The VMC Survey. XXVII. Young Stellar Structures in the LMC's Bar Star-forming Complex. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, Article ARTN 149, vol. 849(2). link> doi> full text>2017.
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A dearth of OH/IR stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 3835-3853, vol. 473(3). link> doi> full text>2018.
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The SAGE-Spec Spitzer Legacy program: the life-cycle of dust and gas in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Point source classification - III. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 3250-3282, vol. 470(3). link> doi> full text>2017.
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Properties of CO2 clathrate hydrates formed in the presence of MgSO4 solutions with implications for icy moons. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, Article ARTN A88, vol. 600. link> doi> full text>2017.
- 2017.
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The VMC Survey - XXI. New star cluster candidates discovered from infrared photometry in the Small Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 383-395, vol. 460(1). link> doi> link> full text>2016.
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XVII. Proper motions of the Small Magellanic Cloud and the Milky Way globular cluster 47 Tucanae. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, Article ARTN A77, vol. 586. link> doi> link> full text>2016.
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Integral field spectroscopy of massive young stellar objects in the N113 H II region in the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 2345-2362, vol. 455(3). link> doi> link> full text>2016.
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Spitzer infrared spectrograph point source classification in the Small Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 3504-3536, vol. 451(4). link> doi> full text>2015.
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Star formation rates from young-star counts and the structure of the ISM across the NGC 346/N66 complex in the SMC. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1847-1862, vol. 448(2). link> doi> full text>2015.
- 2015.
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Molecular hydrogen emission in the interstellar medium of the Large Magellanic Cloud. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 2490-2504, vol. 446(3). link> doi> link> full text>2015.
- 2014.
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The VMC Survey XII. Star cluster candidates in the Large Magellanic Cloud. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, Article ARTN A74, vol. 570. link> doi> link> full text>2014.
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SPITZER VIEW OF MASSIVE STAR FORMATION IN THE TIDALLY STRIPPED MAGELLANIC BRIDGE. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, Article ARTN 162, vol. 785(2). link> doi> link> full text>2014.
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The VMC survey IX. Pilot study of the proper motion of stellar populations in the LMC from 2MASS and VISTA data. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, Article ARTN A32, vol. 562. link> doi> link> full text>2014.
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The VMC Survey - VIII. First results for anomalous Cepheids. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 2307-2319, vol. 437(3). link> doi> link> full text>2014.
- 2013.
- 2013.
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THE HERSCHEL INVENTORY OF THE AGENTS OF GALAXY EVOLUTION IN THE MAGELLANIC CLOUDS, A HERSCHEL OPEN TIME KEY PROGRAM. ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL, Article ARTN 62, vol. 146(3). link> doi> full text>2013.
- 2013.
- 2013.
- 2013.
- 2013.
- 2008.
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Early-stage young stellar objects in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 3001-3033, vol. 428(4). doi>2013.
- 2012.
- 2012.
- 2012.
- 2012.
- 2011.
- 2011.
- 2011.
- 2011.
- 2011.
- 2011.
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Debris discs in the 27 Myr old open cluster IC4665. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2186-2198, vol. 411(4). doi> full text>2011.
- 2010.
- 2010.
- 2010.
- 2010.
- 2010.
- 2010.
- 2010.
- 2009.
- 2010.
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Dust Production and Mass Loss in the Galactic Globular Cluster NGC 362. The Astrophysical Journal, 746-757, vol. 705(1). doi>2009.
- 2009.
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Observation and modelling of main sequence star chromospheres - XIII. The NaI D1 and D2, and HeI D3 lines in dM1 stars. Mon Not R Astron Soc, 238-247, vol. 400(1). doi>2009.
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The low-mass initial mass function in the young cluster NGC6611. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1034-1050, vol. 392(3). link> doi> full text>2009.
- 2008.
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A survey for low-mass spectroscopic binary stars in the young clusters around sigma Orionis and lambda Orionis. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 2210-2224, vol. 385(4). link> doi> full text>2008.
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The Keele-Exeter young cluster survey - I. Low-mass pre-main-sequence stars in NGC 2169. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 580-598, vol. 376(2). link> doi> full text>2007.
- 2006.
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Kinematic structure in the young σ Orionis association. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, L6-L10, vol. 371(1). doi> full text>2006.
- 2006.
- 2006.
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Circumstellar discs in the young sigma Orionis cluster. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 272-280, vol. 369(1). link> doi> full text>2006.
- 2006.
- 2005.
- 2005.
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The lithium depletion boundary in NGC 2547 as a test of pre-main-sequence evolutionary models. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 13-29, vol. 358. doi> full text>2005.
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Circumstellar discs around solar mass stars in NGC 6611. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, L21-L24, vol. 358(1). link> doi> full text>2005.
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Membership, binarity and accretion among very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs of the σ Orionis cluster. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 89-106, vol. 356 Issue 1(1). doi>2005.
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Photospheric magnetic field and surface differential rotation of the FK Com star HD 199178. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 826-844. doi>2004.
- 2004.
- 2004.
- 2004.
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An L '-band survey for circumstellar discs around low-mass stars in the young sigma Orionis cluster. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1327-1336, vol. 347(4). link> doi> full text>2004.
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Mid-infrared observations of young stellar objects in the vicinity of sigma Orionis. Astronomy and Astrophysics. doi>2004.
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Cool stars in NGC 2547 and pre-main-sequence lithium depletion. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. doi> full text>2003.
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Cool stars in NGC 2547 and pre-main-sequence lithium depletion. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. doi>2003.
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Discovery of a dust cloud next to sigma Orionis. Astronomy and Astrophysics. doi>2003.
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The Lithium depletion boundary and the age of NGC 2547. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. doi> full text>2003.
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The Lithium depletion boundary and the age of NGC 2547. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. doi>2003.
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Discovery of a dust cloud next to sigma Orionis. Astronomy and Astrophysics.2003.
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Simultaneous optical and X-ray observations of flares and rotational modulation on the RS CV binary HR 1099 (V711 Tau) from the MUSICOS 1998 campaign. Astronomy and Astrophysics. doi>2003.
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Non-radial pulsation, rotation and outburst in the Be star omega Orionis from the MuSiCoS 1998 campaign. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 899-916. doi>2002.
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No disks around low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the young sigma Orionis cluster?. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, L22-L25, vol. 382(3). link> doi> full text>2002.
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No disks around low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the young Sigma Orionis cluster?. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 22-25.2002.
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Magnetospheric accretion and winds on the T Tauri star SU Aurigae - Multi-spectral line variability and cross-correlation analysis. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, 615-627, vol. 362(2). link>2000.
Chapters
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Star Formation in the Eagle nebula. In Handbook of Star Forming Regions, Vol. 2, The Southern Sky. reipurth B (Ed.). (vol. 5). Astronomical Society of the Pacific.2008.
Other
- 2015.
- 2015.
- 2014.
- 2010.
- 2009.
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Young stars and their circumstellar disks in the sigma orionis cluster. OPEN ISSUES IN LOCAL STAR FORMATION (pp. 55-62, vol. 299). link> doi> full text>2003.
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The circumstellar environment of the TTS SU Aurigae. DISKS, PLANETESIMALS, AND PLANETS, PROCEEDINGS (pp. 181-186, vol. 219). link>2000.
School address
Lennard-Jones School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Lennard-Jones Building
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG, UK
Phone: +44 (0)1782 734921 (School Office)
Email: chemistry@keele.ac.uk, forensics@keele.ac.uk, physics@keele.ac.uk
Programme directors
Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry
Dr Matthew O'Brien
Tel : +44 (0)1782 734371
Email : m.obrien@keele.ac.uk
Forensic Science
Dr Richard Darton
Tel : +44 (0)1782 733345
Email : r.j.darton@keele.ac.uk
Physics and Astrophysics
Dr Arumugam Mahendrasingam
Tel : +44 (0)1782 733312
Email : a.mahendrasingam@keele.ac.uk
Admission tutors
Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry
Dr Natalie Capel
Tel : +44 (0)1782 733584
Email : n.j.capel@keele.ac.uk
Forensic Science
Victoria Cartwright
Tel : +44 (0)1782 733584
Email : v.cartwright@keele.ac.uk
Physics and Astrophysics
Dr Patrick Connell
Tel : +44 (0)1782 733892
Email : physics@keele.ac.uk or p.j.connell@keele.ac.uk