Dr Simon Mutch
Postdoctoral Research FellowUniversity of Melbourne
I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, investigating how the first galaxies formed and evolved, and what their impact was in shaping the universe we see around us. To do this, I create simulated universes using some of Australia's most powerful supercomputers.
Born in Scotland, I received a Masters degree in Physics from the University of Edinburgh. After taking a year out to assess my options, I realised how much I enjoyed astronomy research and programming, and focussed my sights on a career in academia. In 2009 I received an international scholarship from Swinburne University of Technology to study for PhD in astrophysics.
Upon receiving my PhD in 2013, I then moved to the University of Melbourne. In 2017 I became a researcher within the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) and an Australian citizen. In addition to research I spend a significant amount of time co-supervising PhD and Masters students; training them to become the next generation of researchers, or to transition into industry. Throughout my career I have also taken a keen role in contributing to the wider Australian astronomical community through participation in national steering committees.
Electorate: Gellibrand
MP: Tim Watt