Ernest Rutherford Fellowship for Cardiff astrophysicist
7 August 2025
A gravitational waves researcher has been named among seven of the UK’s brightest emerging physicists by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Dr Isobel Romero-Shaw will join Cardiff University from Cambridge as part of the 2025 cohort of the prestigious Ernest Rutherford Fellowship.
Regarded as one of the UK’s premier awards for early-career physicists, the Fellowship supports individuals poised to make landmark contributions in particle physics, astronomy, and nuclear physics and helps them to develop their careers and push the boundaries of their field.
Dr Romero-Shaw’s research focuses on gravitational-wave astrophysics, where she investigates the dynamics of binary compact objects, such as black holes and neutron stars.
But maths and physics have not always come easily to the 2025 Fellow.
“It took a lot of dedication and working out how I like learning to turn myself into a physicist,” she explains.
I would advise young people, especially those who are not well-represented in their chosen field, not to be discouraged - figure out how you enjoy studying, and even if it’s unconventional, you’ll have unlocked a cheat code for a lifetime of learning.
Dr Romero-Shaw has played a leading role in uncovering how gravitational waves carry hidden clues about the behaviour of black holes and neutron stars—such as how they spin and move around each other.
By using advanced data analysis techniques, she turns these faint cosmic signals into new insights about where these powerful systems come from.
She said: “I feel very excited and grateful to be given this opportunity to drive groundbreaking research.
“And I’m so happy to join the Gravity Exploration Institute at Cardiff, where I already have many collaborators. I’m looking forward to all the projects we’ll work on together - those that are already in the works, those that are planned, and those that will arise out of future conversations!”
Her Fellowship will focus on disentangling the complex interplay between key signatures in gravitational wave signals, to reveal the environments in which they form.
Her work will prepare the field for the next generation of gravitational-wave observatories, capable of detecting millions of signals per year and probing the Universe to its earliest epochs.
Professor Mark Hannam, Head of the Gravity Exploration Institute, added: “On behalf of everyone at the School, I want to welcome Isobel to Cardiff and extend my congratulations on her Fellowship award.”
I know Isobel has already collaborated with some of our faculty in her research to date and so we’re excited to have her expertise with us on a full-time basis going forward. I look forward to seeing how her ambitious scholarship in the field of gravitational waves astrophysics grows over the period of her Fellowship and in the years to come.
Now in its 15th consecutive year, the programme backed by a £6 million investment from the STFC, has supported more than 100 early-career researchers and has significantly bolstered UK physics research capability.
Professor Grahame Blair, Executive Director of Research Programmes at STFC, said: “One of the joys of reading through the proposals of our latest Ernest Rutherford Fellows is learning what excites the researchers who are aiming to make tomorrow’s big physics breakthroughs.
“We receive many, exceptionally high-quality applications for this fellowship and it is exceedingly difficult each year to decide on the successful awardees. STFC are very proud of the achievements of all our previous Fellows and we look forward to following the progress of this latest cohort as they reaffirm the UK’s place as a leader in physics and astronomy research.
“Congratulations to the 2025 Ernest Rutherford Fellows and good luck in your research endeavours.”
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