Dr. Irini Sakelliou | Astrophysicist

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

  • 2005 – 2007: Marie Curie Fellow at Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg, Germany.
  • 2001 – 2004: Research Fellow at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, UK.
  • 1998 – 2001: Post-doctoral Research Assistant at Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, London, UK.

EDUCATION

  • 1994 – 1998: University of Southampton, UK – Ph.D. Thesis: ‘Galaxy-Cluster Interactions’. Supervisor: M.R. Merrifield.
  • 1987 – 1994: University of Patras, Greece – Undergraduate education. Degree Subject: Physics, Final Year Project: ‘Interstellar Shells and Supershells in the Magellanic Clouds’, Supervisor: Professor C.D. Goudis.
  • 1991 (March 18-23): 21st ‘SAAS-FEE’ Advanced Course in Astronomy and Astrophysics, on ‘The Galactic Interstellar Medium’, Switzerland.
  • 1994 (July 1-31): ‘Summer School of Advanced Physics’, Physics Department, University of Crete, Greece.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • 2002 – 2004: PhD Supervisor. Project: Radio jets – Cluster interactions (N. Jetha), University of Birmingham, UK.
  • 2001 – 2004: Supervisor (last year undergraduate projects). University of Birmingham, UK.
  • 2001 – 2004: Supervisor of observatory labs, University of Birmingham, UK.
  • 1999–2000: Laboratory demonstrator, University of Southampton, UK.
  • 1991 – 1993: Personal tuition of Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry to pupils aged between 13 and 17 (Greece).

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

  • Observations and data analysis: In the X-ray and Radio wavelengths.
  • Theory: a study of Bondi-Hoyle accretion and ram pressure stripping.
  • I am the author of approximately 30 publications in refereed astronomical journals. I have presented my work at international astronomy conferences in Europe and the US.

Triantafyllaki Niovi-Kikaterini | Astrophysicist

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

  • September 2022 – Present:
    • PhD Candidate: Tartu Observatory, Tartu, Estonia Topic: “Imprints of dynamical friction in different environments”. Supervisor: Rain Kipper.
  • March – July 2022:
    • Internship: Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM), Marseille, France MSc Year 2: “Tests of Hierarchical Accretion in the Virgo Cluster”. Supervisors: Alessia Longobardi and Alessandro Boselli.
  • April – July 2021:
    • Internship: Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France MSc Year 1: “Studying the Extremely Faint Universe to Understand Galaxy Evolution”. Supervisor: Alessia Longobardi.
  • 2020 – 2021:
    • Research Project: Astronomical Observatory of the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland “The variability of a blazar source in intra-night scales”. Supervisors: Arti Goyal, Łukasz Stawarz.
  • June – August 2019:
    • Internship: Astronomical Observatory of the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland “The power spectra of blazar sources”. Supervisor: Łukasz Stawarz.
  • 2018 – 2019:
    • Telescope Assistant / Internship: Institute of Astrophysics / FORTH, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
      Subject: Assisting scientific research observations, photometry, spectroscopy, and polarimetry at Skinakas Observatory. Operation of 1.3m and 0.3m telescopes.

EDUCATION

  • 2020 – 2022:
    • Field (Μεταπτυχιακό Δίπλωμα…): Master in Physics/Space (MSc in Physics/Space), Aix-Marseille University, France. Thesis defense: July 2022. Evaluation: Second upper-class honors (B) / Grade: 16.7/20 (Ranked among top 3).
      Thesis Title: “Tests of Hierarchical Accretion in the Virgo Cluster”.
      Studying traces of galactic evolution in the faint halos and filaments of the Virgo Cluster galaxies.
      Supervisors: Dr. Alessia Longobardi and Alessandro Boselli.
  • 2013 – 2020:
    • Bachelor in Physics, University of Crete, Greece. Thesis defense: January 2020. Evaluation: Very Good.
      Thesis Title: “Determination of the rotational velocity and spectral classification of four Be/X-ray Binaries”.

      Topic: Analysis on spectral data reduction using IRAF/pyraf software, classification of accreting systems, calculating their rotational velocities.
      Supervisor: Dr. Pablo Reig.

PUBLICATIONS
Conference Proceedings

  • 27th Young Scientists’ Conference on Astronomy and Space Physics (2021): Studying the Extremely Faint Universe to Understand Galaxy Evolution (Published Abstract).
    Abstract: Galaxies interact with each other forming bigger galaxies, following the hierarchical scenario, where bigger structures evolve from smaller ones. Here, I will explore how signatures of hierarchical evolution can be found in the distribution of light, kinematics and dynamics of nearby galaxies while in the meantime understand the difficulties on the carried out research that is done in this field.
  • Open Readings 2022: Tests of Hierarchical Formation in the Virgo Cluster (Published Abstract).
  • Tartu-Tuorla cosmology seminar “Galaxy dynamics and beyond”: Tests of Hierarchical Formation in the Virgo Cluster (Published Abstract).

PROGRAMMING & SKILLS

  • C++, IRAF/pyraf
  • Python
  • Latex
  • MatLab
  • CASA pipeline
  • SEXtractor
  • Canva

TEACHING EXPERIENCE (PRIVATE LESSONS)

  • Autumn 2021:
    • MSc Course of UoC/physics: Radiational Processes in Astrophysics-AstroIII.
    • BSc Course of UoC/physics: Conduction and Analysis of Astronomical Observations.
  • Spring 2021:
    • BSc course of UoC/MST: Electromagnetism.
    • MSc Course of UoC/physics: Statistical Physics.
  • Summer/Autumn 2021:
    • BSc courses of EKPA: Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetic fields A and B, Electromagnetism.

GRANTS & AWARDS

  • 2021-22: Internship financed by VESTIGE/LAM.
  • 2021-22: Study scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, France.
  • Spring 2021: IphU Intern (Stagiaire).
  • 2019-2022: Erasmus Plus actions (2019-3-EL02-KA105-005242-KA1).

TRAINING & CONFERENCES

  • April 2023: 28th Young Scientists’ Conference on Astronomy and Space Physics – Invited Speaker.
  • April 2023: Hackathon Vaskna: Writing of a scientific paper.
  • June 2022: Centuri-Turing Center for Living Systems Hackathon: 1st Place – Project CORIMA.
  • May 2022: Tartu-Tuorla cosmology seminar “Galaxy dynamics and beyond”, Estonia (Speech Presentation): Tests of Hierarchical Formation in the Virgo Cluster.
  • March 2022: Open Readings 2022, Vilnius – 65th International Conference for Students of Physics and Natural Sciences (Poster Presentation): Tests of Hierarchical Formation in the Virgo Cluster.
  • February 2022: Training at OHP: Observations, data reduction, and analysis. Drafting of observational plan (T120), followed by photometry and interferometry (T80).
  • July 2021: International Summer School on the Interstellar Medium of Galaxies (ISM of galaxies), France.
  • June 2021: ESCAPE Summer School – Data Science for Astronomers, Astroparticle and Particle Physics, Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules, Annecy, France.
  • April 2021: 27th Young Scientists’ Conference on Astronomy and Space Physics – Invited Speaker, Kyiv, Ukraine.
  • July 2020: Compact Objects and Energetic Phenomena in the Multi-Messenger Era, NRAO.
  • April 2020: Webinar in online teaching: Challenges and solutions in Higher Education.
  • June 2019: 59th Cracow School of Theoretical Physics: Probing the Violent Universe with multi-messenger eyes, Jagiellonian University.
  • April 2017: Participant at the International Physicists’ Tournament (National Level) – Second place among Greek Teams.
  • 8η θέση παγκοσμίως): April 2016: Participant at the International Physicists’ Tournament (International Level) – Ranked 8th worldwide.

OUTREACH & VOLUNTEERING

  • AOFPK Students’ Astronomy Group (2013-2021): Group logistics, public observations, organizing events, lectures, and workshops. Co-organizer of the 1st Geometry Workshop in Anogeia. Researcher at “Researcher’s Night” (2015). Scientific content writer for the monthly newsletter “The Sky of Greece”.
  • Amateur Telescope Operator: Experience with 8-inch Dobsonian, 9.8-inch Schmidt–Cassegrain, and 12-inch Meade LX200 telescopes.
  • 2019 – Present:
    • Mathesis Moodle: “A voyage to the universe, first stop: our solar system”.
    • Scientific advisor for “The Sky of Greece” videos and content writer at Uni-Mag website.
  • wEUnite (Austria NGO, 2023-): Vice-president, Erasmus+ Coordinator since 2022.
  • OLOMITES AMKE (2023-): Assistant project coordinator, communication manager, Erasmus+ content writer.
  • Youthtopia (2018-2023): Founder, Erasmus+ Project Coordinator, STEM event organizer.
  • Science Behind (2018-2021): Content writer for science outreach, STEM events and experiments in Heraklion.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Alessia Longobardi – ERC Postdoc
  • Matthieu Bethermin – Astronomer at LAM
  • Łukasz Stawarz Director of the Astronomical Observatory, Jagiellonian University
  • Pablo Reig – Director of Research (Institute of Astrophysics/FORTH)