My research interests are centred around understanding galaxy evolution across cosmic time.б
At high redshift, I study some of the most luminous and extreme galaxies in the Universe. Selected at far-IR/mm wavelengths, these distant dusty galaxies are forming stars thousands of times faster than typical galaxies in the local Universe (like the Milky Way). These extreme galaxies are a great laboratory for testing our knowledge of gas physics, star formation laws, and galaxy evolution, while providing an important challenge for our understanding of the growth of structure in the Universe.
The nearby Universe also provides a useful view with which to understand the galaxies. The early stages of galaxy evolution leave telltale footprints in the properties of local galaxies, which can be studied in huge numbers using the latest generation of surveys. In the local Universe I use large surveys for gas, metals, and stars, to shed light on the physical processes governing the evolution of galaxies across all cosmic epochs.б