This research is investigating the structure of gas rich galaxies to uncover the processes that shape how galaxies form and evolve within the universe.
Canada Research Chair in Gas Rich Galaxy Structure Tier 1
Mapping the hidden universe
Understanding how galaxies acquire, lose, and transform their gas is one of the central challenges in astronomy. As the Canada Research Chair in Gas Rich Galaxy Structure, Dr. Kristine Spekkens studies the atomic gas within galaxies to reveal how gas, stars, and dark matter combine to influence their structure and evolution. Her work seeks to clarify how galaxies similar to the Milky Way formed and how they continue to change within their cosmic environments.
This research program takes advantage of a new generation of radio telescopes that provide unprecedented views of atomic gas across cosmic time. Using large surveys from instruments such as the Australian SKA Pathfinder and leading contributions to the (CHORD) project, Dr. Spekkens conducts widefield mapping and kinematic modeling to measure how gas is distributed and moves through galaxies. These datasets allow her team to compare detailed observations with cosmological simulations and to investigate how galaxies gain or lose gas as they interact with their surroundings.
By addressing key open questions in cosmology, Dr. Spekkens' work will advance our understanding of how galaxies form at all scales. Her program will generate insights that support the interpretation of future observations with the Square Kilometre Array and will train the next generation of researchers in radio astronomy and data intensive science.