Profile
Miranda Jackson
My CV
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Education:
University of Regina, University of British Columbia, Columbia University
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Qualifications:
BSc Honours, MSc, PhD
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Work History:
Space Telescope Science Institute, University of Manitoba, Royal Institute of Technology, Cardiff University
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Current Job:
Lecturer
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My research makes use of high energy measurements of very dense objects known as compact objects. These include neutron stars and black holes. While neutron stars have about the same mass as our Sun, black holes can have the mass of a typical star, or they can be supermassive and be the same mass as a whole galaxy.
Because they are so dense, they have extremely high gravity, and attract material toward them, which rotates about them in what is known as an accretion disc. The accretion disc is made up of very fast-moving and hot particles. Sometimes jets are also seen, and material moves along these jets, away from the central object, with very high energy. If we happen to be looking along a jet toward the object, we can see a lot of variation in the light and radiation we measure. From this variation, we can understand more about the black hole and how it affects the material near it. When we happen to be looking along the jet, the object is known as a blazar.
A neutron star is formed during the collapse of an ordinary star which is somewhat more massive than our Sun. The collapse of the star leads to a supernova explosion, which heats up the material in the nearby space and produces a supernova remnant, a beautiful glowing cloud of hot gas in space.
After a supernova, a newly-formed neutron star rotates very fast and has a very high magnetic field. Every time the neutron star spins, it flashes, and it is known as a pulsar.
In my research, I study supernova remnants, blazars, and pulsars. I use data from satellites designed to measure high-energy radiation, such as X-rays and gamma-rays. Gamma-rays are the highest energy radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum. I work with other scientists who observe these same objects in visible light and in radio waves. Radio waves are the lowest energy radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum. By combining our data, we can learn even more about compact objects.
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My Typical Day:
I do research, attend meetings, and teach students.
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I enjoy meeting with my colleagues to discuss teaching or research. I also regularly meet with students to talk about projects and their coursework. On some days, I give lectures or help students with laboratory exercises. The rest of my time is spent doing research and preparing for teaching.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would use it for a new project to measure cosmic rays, involving local schools.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
determined, creative, enthusiastic
Were you ever in trouble at school?
sometimes
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Matt Cardle. He has a fantastic voice. I am also into jazz and classical music (both listening and playing).
What's your favourite food?
anything with chocolate in it
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
the opportunity to do research, enthusiastic students to join me in that endeavour, to travel to and work in space
Tell us a joke.
An atom says to his friend, “I lost an electron”. His friend says, “Are you sure?”. The atom says, “I’m positive”.
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