Dr Maria Chernyakova
I try to teach my students that just doing the analysis is not interesting. The most interesting thing is using observations to bridge your understanding of the theory and thus to study the world around us. If you can be amazed by the beauty of what is around you, then you will be able to decipher the signals nature is sending us and find logical explanations.
A pedigree in physics
Both my parents were physicists, so I was always surrounded by maths and physics. I was lucky with my father, as I could discuss everything with him and he was always able to show me things from a very different perspective. I was also fortunate to have found an excellent secondary school, with interesting and passionate teachers.
After postdoctoral work at the Integral Science Data Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, and at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, I took up an academic position in the School of Physical Sciences at DCU in 2011. In my work, I combine data analysis with physical modelling.
Understanding signals from the universe
My research is in high energy astrophysics, particularly the study of multi-wavelength properties of gamma-ray binaries, which are systems in which a compact source (neutron star or black hole) is orbiting around a hot, young, massive optical star. Fewer than 10 such systems are currently known. It’s vital to study their properties in detail to understand how they are so efficient in producing their very high energy emissions.
Dr Maria Chernyakova, School of Physical Sciences
Programme Chair, BSc in Physics with Astronomy