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Dr Mikako Matsuura

Dr Mikako Matsuura

Reader
Astronomy Group
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology

Email
matsuuram@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)2922 510266
Campuses
N/2.17, Queen's Buildings - North Building, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I am a reader at the astrophysics group of School of Physics and Astronomy at the Cardiff University. My research focuses on dust and molecules in evolved stars, supernovae and supernova remnants, using the state-of-art instruments, including the Herschel Space Observatory, ALMA, SOFIA, and the James Webb Space Telescope.

Biography

August 2021- Reader of School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University

2016 - August 2021 Senior Lecturer of School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University

January 2015 - February 2020 Cardiff University, STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellow
July 2012 - January 2015, UCL, Senior research fellow
April 2011 - June 2012, UCL, Research fellow
April 2009 - March 2011 UCL, Origins Research Fellow
April 2006 - March 2009 National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), JSPS fellow
October 2005 - March 2006 Queen's University of Belfast, Research fellow
April 2001 - September 2005 University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) & University of Manchester, Research associate
April 1998 - March 2001 University of Tokyo & ISAS/JAXA, JSPS fellow
March 2001 PhD in Astronomy, University of Tokyo
March 1998 MSc in Astronomy, University of Tokyo
March 1996 BSc in Physics, Nagoya University

Publications

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Teaching

Current teaching duties are

1st year Tutorials

PX3145/PXT211 – Formation and Evolution of Stars

PX3350/PX3315 – Year 3 projects

PX4310 – Year 4 projects

PXT991 –  Advanced Techniques in Physics and Astrophysics Micro Project

PXT999 – MSc projects

Research interests

My research interest is dust and molecules in evolved stars and supernovae, with a focus on how and how much dust and molecules are formed in these stars, and what is their contribution to the global dust budgets of the interstellar medium of galaxies. Recently, our observations with the Herschel Space Observatory found a significant mass (~half a solar mass) of dust in the supernova 1987A. Furthermore, we also found cold (<120K) molecules from this supernova. Presently, I am investigating how the dust and molecules have been formed in supernovae, by using Herschel, ALMA, SOFIA, VLT and JWST.

Supervision

Current supervision

Holly Davies

Research student