Research Projects we lead

Research Projects with major participation/leadership

Research Projects with our participation

Main Research Funders

Research Facilities

Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory at Lords Bridge

​Please contact us for information on operations and visits. Follow these links for an overview and its origins. 

Latest group News

July-August-September 2024

  • 4 new REACH papers are out there! Check them under Publications.
  • Members of the group attended the 3rd REACH Annual Meeting, in Mahabaleshwar, India (photo below)
  • Dr Shikhar Mittal joins the group from TIFR, Mumbai to work on 21-cm cosmology (theory and data analysis). Welcome Shikhar!
  • We prepare for the new academic year, with 3 new graduate students joining the team: Gabriella Rajpoot, Adarsh Kumar Dash and Daniel Robins. Welcome all! 

Link to News Archive

Who are we?

Group photos

Head of Group

Dr Eloy de Lera Acedo
Associate Professor
@   #   arXiv   X   CV

My research, funded by UKRI-STFC, is on 21-cm cosmology: Dark Ages, Cosmic Dawn, Epoch of Reionization. I lead the Cavendish Radio Astronomy and Cosmology research group at Cavendish Astrophysics and I am the initiator and PI of the REACH experiment. I am also involved in other projects for astronomy (e.g. SKA, HERA, CosmoCube) and ultra fast digital communications and EM metrology, with a focus on applications of astronomy-inspired technology in society. I am an Associate Professor, fellow at Selwyn college, and a STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellow at the University of Cambridge, UK. Recently I have been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for the project REACH_21. In 2019 I co-funded Cambridge Electromagnetic Technology Ltd with 2 colleagues. We offer a range of products and consultancy services supporting technology businesses all over the world.

Senior Researchers

Dr Jeremy Coles
​SKA Co-I
UK SKA Reg. Centre Deputy Director
@

I have a background in Particle Physics where I explored R-parity violations in supersymmetry but have also undertaken projects in nucleosynthesis modelling and tests of higher-dimensional cosmological models. I have now spent many years developing and running international research infrastructure projects with a focus on distributed computing.   I moved into SKA work to coordinate the pre-construction Science Data Processor (SDP) design consortium. Since then I have taken on a number of roles from running the team doing simulations and modelling through to most recently being the Release Train Engineer for SKA Regional Centre (SRC) activities.

Dr Mark Ashdown
​SKA science lead
​Principal Research Associate
​@

Text under construction.

Dr Bojan Nikolic
SKA SDP architect​
Principal Research Associate
​@

Text under construction.

Dr Vladislav Stolyarov
Senior Research Associate
​@

I have a background in radio physics, radio astronomy and cosmology, my PhD thesis was about primordial recombination and CMB spectral distortions. I worked with the Planck team for about 15 years doing software development for data reduction, focusing on maximum entropy methods application for the astrophysical component separation on the all-sky maps, point source and SZ clusters detection and catalogue construction. In the SKA project I work in software engineering participating in the aperture synthesis software development, simulation and modelling, HPC application development and testing on the large systems like CSD3 and Darwin. My research interests include radio astronomy data processing, CMB and cosmology, AGN physics and observations, diffuse foreground astrophysical properties (synchrotron, free-free, thermal and anomalous dust, CIB).

Dr Fred Dulwich
​Senior Research Associate
​@

Text under construction.

Dr Charles Walker
​Senior Research Associate
​@

Charlie’s background is in the study of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs): short, bright, extragalactic transient radio transients with as-of-yet unknown progenitors. He’s spent time building a transient detector backend for the UK’s e-MERLIN interferometer, and at the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, using the IllustrisTNG simulation to investigate the effects of cosmological large-scale structures on FRB signals as they propagate towards us through the Universe. At Cambridge, he’ll continue investigating how FRBs might be used as astrophysical tools. He’s also part of the UK’s Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Regional Center, working to help the upcoming telescope achieve its many scientific goals.

Charlie enjoys scientific outreach and has formerly spent time working on The Jodcast astronomy podcast at the University of Manchester, and with BBC radio. In his spare time, he’s a keen reader and aspiring writer.

Dr Quentin Gueuning
Senior Research Associate
​@

My work focuses on developing EM modelling methods and calibration algorithms for wide-band phased arrays, such as the ones to be used by the SKA telescope. My work is funded by STFC. Previously I worked on Inhomogeneous plane-wave spectrum based Physical Optics for the simulation of urban radio propagation. I am currently focusing on the development of very fast calibration algorithms for phased arrays including all mutual coupling effects.

Junior Research Fellows and Research Associates

Dr Harry Bevins
Kavli Junior Research Fellow
@   arXiv

I work on developing novel data analysis and calibration techniques for 21-cm Cosmology, theoretical interpretations of data from existing experiments and investigating ways in which we can exploit machine learning algorithms to enhance our Bayesian inference pipelines. I have led the development of signal emulators, foreground modelling techniques and a marginal Bayesian inference toolbox. I have applied many of these tools to the theoretical interpretation of current observational upper limits on the 21-cm power spectrum from HERA and the sky-averaged 21-cm signal from SARAS3, placing some of the first constraints on the star formation properties of early galaxies. I’m currently working on applications of normalizing flows in the context of nested sampling, and I am interested in applying the techniques discussed above to observations of early galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope.

Dr Ying-He Celeste Lü
​Postdoctoral Research Associate
​@

My background lies in computational astrophysics and high-performance computing for astronomy projects. During my PhD I worked on modelling and developing simulations for AGN accretion, jets and the effect of AGN feedback in galaxy clusters. I have also taken projects on development of large-scale cosmological simulations as well as analysis and visualisation software for simulation output. In the SKA project I work primarily in software development for the pipeline and processing workflows, as well as instrumental simulation and modelling. My research interests include HPC for radio astronomy, radio galaxies and AGN physics, and large-scale structure. I am also interested in astronomy outreach.

Dr Dominic Anstey
​​Postdoctoral Research Associate
@

I have been developing a Bayesian data analysis pipeline for the REACH experiment, which aims at a joint fit of the cosmological 21cm sky-averaged signal, the foregrounds and the instrument itself using physics-rooted models, measurements and simulations. I also work on simulations to identify the impact of systematic errors in the Square Kilometre Array on the ability to detect the 21cm signal.

Dr John Cumner
​​Postdoctoral Research Associate
@

I focus upon the use of computational modelling for radio frequency electromagnetic systems. My work includes designing and analysing possible systematics for the dipole radiometer for the REACH global 21-cm experiment. I am now applying similar methods to understand and develop the SKA-low instrument (e.g. antenna and base station design).

Dr Maya Horton
​​Postdoctoral Research Associate
@

My background is in HPC and radio astronomy. My PhD focused on simulations of radio jets perturbed by supermassive black hole binaries using PLUTO CFD code and a Bayesian jet path finder, and later moved onto observations of candidate precessing sources using the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) and the VLA. Alongside my PhD I worked part-time as a HPC assistant and later moved to a full-time role managing a 6000+ core Linux cluster and overseeing a large CAPEX development. I spent two years working with the SKA’s Science Regional Centres (SRCnet), mostly developing science platforms and testing self-calibration on a variety of resources. I was heavily involved in the development of the LoTSS Data Release 2. I am a member of the NANOGrav consortium and the Royal Astronomical Society’s sustainability group.

Dr Vijay Mahatma
​​Postdoctoral Research Associate
​@

I am a radio astronomer, currently working on the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project to help develop the Science Data Processor: the collection of software, hardware and tools to fully automate the production of high quality science data products from future SKA observations. My research is on radio galaxies, where I try to understand their physics, life-cycles, and their impact on their surrounding intergalactic medium. I am a member of the LOFAR Long Baseline working group, dedicated to state of the art high resolution imaging at 150 MHz. I am also a member of the LOFAR Surveys Key Science Project, LOFAR Magnetism Key Science Project and I am co-I of LOFAR2.0 Large Programmes.

Dr Haoyang Ye
​​Postdoctoral Research Associate
​@

​Haoyang has a particular interest in developing imaging algorithms for radio interferometers, and is passionate about creating an inclusive and nurturing learning atmosphere wherever she finds herself. 

Haoyang’s background is in image reconstruction methods for radio interferometers, and she holds a Ph.D. in Astrophysics. She has been supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students alongside her research, and she has a personal podcast named "Wondering Zoe".

Dr Mohammed Al-Badri
​​​Postdoctoral Research Associate
​@

I am Dr. Mohammed Al-Badri, serving as a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory, My primary responsibility lies in the CosmoCube project. My background is in electronic engineering (digital signal processing, FPGA systems, RFSoC, SDR, and embedded system design). Before joining Cambridge, I led projects in medical and optical device development at the University of Manchester and University of Nottingham. This project aims to launch a cubesat with a precision radiometer to the Moon's far side, seeking to uncover secrets of the early Universe. My role focuses on the back-end development.

Dr Shikhar Mittal
​​​Postdoctoral Research Associate
​@

I work on the various aspects of interpretation and modelling the cosmic dawn 21-cm signal. In particular, I have been working on improving the radiative transfer of Lyman-α photons by bringing in realism to the gas physics. On the interpretation side, I work on astrophysical and cosmological inferences from the cosmic dawn 21-cm signal using Bayesian statistics. For example, I obtained constraints on primordial black holes as dark matter or made predictions for the galaxy surveys enabled by JWST. I have also investigated the impact of extragalactic point sources on the astrophysical foregrounds and the 21-cm signal measurements for the REACH experiment.

Research Assistants and Technical Officers

Ms Verity Allan
Technical officer
@

My background is in mediaeval history and languages, and mathematics and computer science. I have worked as part of the University’s software innovations group, including work managing services and software testing. I have worked as the Engineer Co-ordinator for the SDP Design consortium, including as part of the architecture team. My current role is as Release Train Engineer for the SKAO Software Services Agile Release Train. My research interests include High Performance Computing for radio astronomy, focusing on the challenges of working with the massive datasets from the next generation of radio telescopes, and the history of computing for astronomy.

Mr Rohan Patel
Research Assistant
​@

My work is on the development of instrumentation for 21cm cosmology on the REACH and SKA projects.  Before starting in Cambridge, I studied a four-year integrated master's course at The University of Manchester where I developed the first software-defined radio receiver for a telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory.

Research Students

Ms Gabriella Rajpoot
MPhil student
2024 start
​@

I look forward to exploring the early Universe and delving into research within 21-cm cosmology through machine learning methods as part of my MPhil in Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory. Having lived in Dubai for my formative years, I relocated to London to attend St Paul's Girls' School and went on to read Theoretical Physics at UCL. With an interest in computational and statistical analysis within the realm of astrophysics, I have had research experience in advanced data processing techniques applied to observational astronomy of several deep field surveys, such as the JADES program.
​
​​>MPhil supervisors: Harry Bevins, Dominic Anstey and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Mr Adarsh Kumar Dash
​PhD student
2024 start
​@

I am an experimental cosmologist, pursuing my PhD at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. Here, I will be working on the instrumentation aspects of the Global 21-cm experiments REACH and CosmoCube. Before joining Cambridge, I worked as a research assistant at Raman Research Institute, India, where I worked on the optimization of the analog receiver electronics as well as the data-reduction pipeline of SARAS and PRATUSH (with similar science goals as REACH).

​​>PhD supervisors: Harry Bevins, Dominic Anstey and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Mr Daniel Robins
​PhD student
2024 start
​@

My PhD, with a focus on radio data analysis, is funded through the STFC CDT in Data Intensive Science.  I previously graduated from the University of Warwick, where I used radio astronomy and other multi-wavelength observations to study accretion onto neutron star binaries.  I also have some experience in analysing gravitational wave physics of the upcoming LISA mission, and mapping supernova remnants in optical surveys.

​​>PhD supervisors: Dominic Anstey, Harry Bevins and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Ms Aleksandra Dragovic
PhD student
2024 start
​@

My research focuses on developing statistical data analysis tools to detect and study the 21-cm line from atomic hydrogen from the Cosmic Dawn. I will use machine learning and Bayesian inference to compensate for foreground interference to the 21-cm signal. I completed a master’s degree at Queen Mary, University of London, focusing on computational techniques in radio cosmology. I have been involved in broader science communication and education including online and offline roles in media and astronomical societies in Serbia and Croatia, and my former position in the Royal Observatory in Greenwich which I held before coming to Cambridge.

​>PhD supervisors: Harry Bevins, Dominic Anstey and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Mr Saswata Dasgupta
PhD student
​2023 start
@

I am currently pursuing my PhD at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge. My academic path began with a Bachelor's degree in Electronics, which piqued my interest in Instrumentation. This interest was further nurtured during my Master's in Space Science and Engineering at IIT Indore, where I specialized in 21-cm cosmology and honed my skills with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) imaging pipeline. At Cambridge, under the guidance of Prof. Anastasia Fialkov, I am delving into the effects of X-ray stochasticity on 21-cm simulations. In addition, I am collaborating with Dr Eloy De Lera Acedo on the REACH calibration pipeline, aiming to make contributions to the global cosmological 21-cm signal detection.

​>PhD supervisors: Anastasia Fialkov (principal), Harry Bevins, Dominic Anstey, Daniel Molnar and Eloy de Lera Acedo

Mr Samuel Leeney
PhD student
​2023 start
@

My current work focused on building data analysis tools for use in Cosmology - designing statistical tools that take data from telescopes and output results that are useful to Physics. Previously, during my MPhil I developed a first-of-its-kind Bayesian anomaly detection methodology using numerical sampling techniques. Initially designed for RFI mitigation, we hope to use it to detect other anomalies in the future such as Fast Radio Bursts. Prior to that I developed a machine learning algorithm to classify malignant tissue during breast cancer surgery, which is currently being tested at NU Hospital. My research is funded by the European Research Council via the UKRI guarantee scheme.

​​>PhD supervisors: Harry Bevins, Will Handley and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Mr Yuchen Liu
PhD student
​2023 start
​@

I work on the development of the Bayesian data pipeline for the sky-averaged 21-cm cosmology experiment REACH. In particular, I focus on the stage of foreground mitigation in the 21-cm signal detection. My research interests in general span from computational aspects to observations of 21-cm cosmology. Before starting the PhD, I had research experience in understanding the impact of reionization on the 1D power spectrum of Lyman-alpha forest. The work aimed to avoid computationally expensive simulations to marginalize the reionization over cosmological information by using an analytic prescription.

​>PhD supervisors: Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Mr Joe Pattison
PhD student
​2022 start
@

My work at the Cavendish, funded by the STFC, focuses on Bayesian analysis and theory 21cm cosmology for the investigation of the epoch of reionisation. Prior to starting my PhD, I completed an integrated master’s degree at UCL, where my thesis focused on comparing dust mapping methods in nearby galaxies to assess where and when the methods would disagree with one another.

​>PhD supervisors: Dominic Anstey and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Mr Jiten Dhandha
PhD student
​2022 start
@

I am an astrophysics graduate from the University of Manchester, starting my PhD under the funding of the Boustany Foundation and Cambridge Trust at the Institute of Astronomy. I have some past experience in modeling the 21cm global signal as it relates to CMB spectral distortions in exotic physics scenarios, and also with 3D hydrodynamical simulations of star-forming molecular clouds. As part of my PhD, I intend to work on improving simulations of the 21cm signal, particularly the re-ionization model, and how it could be improved with suggestions from the new JWST results.

​​>PhD supervisors: Anastasia Fialkov (principal) and Eloy de Lera Acedo

Mr Kaan Artuc
PhD student
​2022 start
@

I received my master’s degree in CDT Connected Electronic and Photonic Systems program joint between UCL and Cambridge. My PhD project is funded by Brookhaven National Laboratory in the US. I am currently working on the lander telescope project, LuSEE-Night, which aims to unveil the dark ages by detecting red shifted 21-cm hydrogen signal lying around 17MHz from the far side of the moon. The instrumentation is being designed and built in collaboration with NASA and LBNL. I am working on the spectrometer, including the RF front-end design. I will focus on the calibration techniques to overcome the challenges of detecting the signal buried in the galactic foreground.

​>PhD supervisors: Daniel Molnar and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Mr Christian Kirkham
PhD student
​2022 start
@

My work, funded by STFC, is on bayesian data analysis for 21-cm cosmology experiments, like REACH. Before coming to Cambridge, I was at Durham University using Gaia data to investigate the systematic bias in DR3 parallaxes and its effect of the calibration of the cosmological distance ladder. A secondary investigation involved using main-sequence fitting to UBV photometry of open cluster stars to determine whether the standard reddening law needs to be modified to include a distance dependence.

​>PhD supervisors: Dominic Anstey and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Mr Simon Pochinda
PhD student
​2021 start
@

I am a PhD student funded by the Cambridge Trust, the Isaac Newton Trust and the Cambridge STFC CDT in Data Intensive Science. I will be focusing on utilising radio data from REACH/HERA along with upcoming data from the James Webb Space Telescope to provide joint constraints on cosmological parameters from the epoch of re-ionization. Previous research includes my MSc thesis from the University of Copenhagen. There I worked on developing techniques to model spectral energy distributions of high redshift dusty star forming galaxies from UV-optical data by imposing energy balance.

​​>PhD supervisors: Anastasia Fialkov and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)
​

Mr Oscar Sage David O’Hara 
PhD student
​2021 start
@

Funded in partnership between The University of Cambridge, The National Physics Laboratory and the European Space Agency. This collaborative project focuses on the development of a high sensitivity Electro-Optic antenna system alongside associated physics-motivated computational models aimed to classify electromagnetic emission in an environment with an extremely low S/N ratio. Before undertaking my PhD at Cambridge, I had research experience in the Very Low-Frequency Monitoring of the Earth's Ionosphere and the Impacts of Solar Flares.

​​>PhD supervisors: Tian Loh (NPL), Johannes Wolf (ESA) and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)
​

Mx Emma Shen
PhD student
​2021 start
@

I work on data analysis and modelling of foreground in global 21-cm experiments (e.g. REACH). The goal is to compensate for the effects using an advance nested sampler, PolyChord, based on Bayesian techniques. I have done some work on quantifying and analysing the chromatic ionospheric effects for my master’s project. The project is jointly funded by Cambridge Trust and the Ministry of Education in Taiwan.

​​>PhD supervisors: Dominic Anstey, Anastasia Fialkov and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Mr Kilian Scheutwinkel
PhD student
2020 start
@

My PhD project, funded by the Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, is in data analysis of the 21-cm signal using the cosmological experiments REACH and HERA. To achieve a successful detection of the aforementioned signal, I will use advanced bayesian techniques for signal extraction but will also consider alternative approaches by using machine learning algorithms. Before joining Cambridge, I had research experience in Spectroscopy and Photometry. For my M.Sc., I studied the chemical evolution of metal-poor stars within the Globular Cluster M30 by analyzing relative abundance trends and patterns. Furthermore, I gained computational experience by simulating the ionospheric composition of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Additionally, I used basic photometry to derive comet parameters.

​​​>PhD supervisors: Will Handley and Eloy de Lera Acedo (principal)

Past group members
(and their follow-on positions)

Dr Edgar Colin-Beltran, Research fellow INOAE, Mexico (2013-2015) - Design of LPD antennas for the SKA MFAA instrument - Researcher at INOAE
Dr Jens Abraham, Research assistant (2015-2017) - Modelling and characterisation of SKA1-LOW antennas, LNAs and arrays - Researcher at 3D Radar
Mr Nicholas Fagnoni, PhD student (2015-2021) - Electromagnetic modelling and design of the HERA front-end system - Research engineer at Airbus
Dr Hardie Pienaar, PDRA (2017-2018) - Design of SKALA4, SKA1-LOW array design, UAV measurements - Researcher at Reutech
Dr Christos Kolitsidas, visiting student (KTH Stockholm - 2017) - Chromatic effects in Global 21-cm cosmology experiments - Researcher at Ericsson
Dr Nausika Memeletzoglou, visiting student (UC3M Madrid - 2019) - Metasurface ground planes for radio cosmology - Researcher at Sener
Mr Shijie Sun, visiting researcher (CAS Beijing - 2020) - Receiver calibration for Global 21-cm cosmology experiments - Research engineer at CAS
Dr Ergin Dinc, PDRA (2019-2021) - Surface Wave launcher design for ultra fast digital communications - Research engineer at Isotropic Systems
Dr Syed Bukhari, PDRA (2019-2022) - Surface Wave launcher design for ultra fast digital communications - Data Scientist at Capgemini
Mr Nicholas Leherter, MPhil (2020-2022) - Measurements of low level EM emissions - Research engineer at Graphcore
Dr Alec Josaitis, PhD student (2018-2022) - Commissioning and characterisation of HERA - High frequency trading at Jump Trading
Mr Zijie Yu, visiting student (CAS Beijing - 2022-2023) - Transient science with AMI and e-Merlin - PhD at CAS
Mr Jiacong Zhu, visiting student (CAS Beijing - 2023-2024) - Radiometer calibration and 21-cm cosmology - PhD at CAS
Dr Thommas Gessey-Jones, PhD student (2020-2024) - 21-cm cosmology theory and simulations - Researcher at PhysicsX
Dr Daniel Molnar, SRA (2023-2024) - Radio astronomy simulations and instrumentation - European politics

Cambridge researchers ​collaborating with the group

Prof. Roberto Maiolino (Professor) - Galaxy evolution
Dr. Sandro Tacchella (Lecturer) - Galaxy evolution
Prof. Richard G McMahon (Professor) - SKA
Dr. Paul Calleja (HPCS director) - SKA
Dr. Will Handley (Royal Society University Research Fellow) - REACH
{co-supervisor of Mr Kilian Scheutwinkel and Mr Sam Leeney}
Dr Anastasia Fialkov (Professor at the Institute of Astronomy) - REACH, HERA
​{co-supervisor of Mr Simon Pochinda and Mx Emma Shen}
Prof Mike Payne (Head of Cavendish Theory of Condensed Matter Group) - Ultra fast digital communications
Prof Richard Penty (Engineering Department) - Ultra fast digital communications
Dr Michael Crisp (Engineering Department) - Ultra fast digital communications

Major international collaborations

Our current major collaborations include:

Research in Radio-astronomy / cosmology

Prof Aaron Parsons and Dr David DeBoer (UC Berkley, US) - HERA
Prof Jackie Hewitt (MIT, US) - ​HERA
Prof Kavilian Moodley (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) - HIRAX
Prof Rennan Barkana (Princeton university, US and Tel Aviv university, Israel) - 21-cm theory 

Research in Technology

Prof Christophe Craeye (UcL Belgium) - Array design, EM modelling, Array calibration
Prof Dirk de Villiers (Stellenbosch university, South Africa) - Antenna design, REACH experiment
Prof Anthony K Brown (QMUL, UK) - SKA, Array calibration and EM modelling
Prof Kevin Weatherill (Durham university, UK) - EM measurements - Rydberg sensors
Prof Stuart Adams (Durham university, UK) - EM measurements - Rydberg sensors

Recent Collaborations with Industry

Cambridge Consultants Ltd. - Radio antennas and low noise amplifiers
National Physics Laboratory (Prof Tian Loh) - Measurements of low-levels of EM emissions
BT Labs - Ultra fast Surface Wave Communications
European Space Agency (Dr Johannes Wolf) - Measurements of low-levels of EM emissions

Location