Tim O'Brien (physicist)
{{short description|British astronomer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Tim O'Brien
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| birth_name = Timothy John O'Brien
| image = Jodrell Bank Live 2011 10.jpg
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| alt = Tim on stage at Jodrell Bank Live in 2011
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|03|31|df=y}}
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| workplaces = University of Manchester
Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics
Liverpool John Moores University
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| education =
| alma_mater = University College London (BSc)
University of Manchester (PhD)
| thesis_title = A model for the remnant of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi (1985)
| thesis_url = http://www.librarysearch.manchester.ac.uk/MU_VU1:BLENDED:44MAN_ALMA_DS21157973630001631
| thesis_year = 1990
| doctoral_advisor = Franz Daniel Kahn{{cite journal|last1=Dyson|first1=James E.|authorlink1=James Dyson (physicist)|last2=Lynden Bell|first2=Donald|authorlink2=Donald Lynden-Bell|title=Franz Daniel Kahn. 13 May 1926 -- 8 February 1998: Elected F.R.S. 1993|journal=Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society|volume=45|year=1999|pages=255–267|issn=0080-4606|doi=10.1098/rsbm.1999.0017|s2cid=71566659}}{{MathGenealogy|id=217790}}
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| known_for = Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN){{cite journal|last1=Healy|first1=F.|last2=O'Brien|first2=T. J.|last3=Beswick|first3=R.|title=eMERLIN imaging of γ-ray nova V959 Mon's surprising evolution|journal=Journal of Physics: Conference Series|volume=728|year=2016|issue=4|pages=042002|issn=1742-6588|doi=10.1088/1742-6596/728/4/042002|bibcode=2016JPhCS.728d2002H|doi-access=free|url=https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/files/50614596/Healy_2016_J_Phys_Conf_Ser_728_042002.pdf}}
Bluedot Festival
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| awards = Kelvin Prize (2014)
| spouse = Teresa Anderson
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| website = {{URL|http://proftimobrien.com}}
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Timothy John O'Brien (born 31 March 1964) is a British astronomer, currently working at the University of Manchester as Professor of Astrophysics. He often appears on the BBC.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/35457742 Newsround February 2016][http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06z4ync BBC Inside Science February 2016]
Early life and education
He was born in Littleborough, Greater Manchester. He grew up in Castleton, Greater Manchester in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale.[http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/84640/rochdale-professor-appears-on-stargazing-live Rochdale January 2014] He attended school in Rochdale.,{{cite web|url=http://www.thecheshiremagazine.co.uk/article/the-science-interview-awesome-astrophysicist-professor-tim-o-brien|publisher= Cheshire Magazine |date= 2016-08-26|archivedate=2016-11-12|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112022432/https://thecheshiremagazine.co.uk/article/the-science-interview-awesome-astrophysicist-professor-tim-o-brien|website=thecheshiremagazine.co.uk|first=Natalie|last=Anglesey|title=THE SCIENCE INTERVIEW: 'AWESOME ASTROPHYSICIST' PROFESSOR TIM O'BRIEN}} attending St Joseph’s RC Middle School from 1975 to 1977, and Bishop Henshaw RC Memorial High School, now St Cuthbert's RC High School, from 1977 to 1982.
He studied Physics and Astrophysics at Queen Mary College and completed his PhD at the University of Manchester between 1985 and 1988.
Career and research
He taught at the University of Liverpool in the 1990s.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} He began working at the University of Manchester in 1999 where he is currently{{when|date=June 2022}} associate director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. He is also Director of Teaching & Learning in the university's School of Physics & Astronomy. From 2009 to 2015, he taught the first year undergraduate course in Astrophysics.[http://www.physics.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-courses/astronomy-and-astrophysics/ Astrophysics]
His research is primarily in the area of novae (thermonuclear explosions on white dwarf stars in binary star systems) and includes both theoretical work and observations using telescopes around the world and in space working across the electromagnetic spectrum.
=Broadcasting=
Personal life
O'Brien is married to Professor Teresa Anderson (born 1 December 1962).[http://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/article/?id=12411 Wife] He lived for a time{{when|date=June 2022}} in Macclesfield{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} and currently{{when|date=June 2022}} lives in south Manchester.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} He has a younger sister (born 1965) and a younger brother (born 1967).{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
References
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{{S-ttl|title= Professor of Astrophysics at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester|years= - }}
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{{Jodrell Bank Observatory}}
{{Astronomy subfields}}
{{Supernovae}}
{{University of Manchester}}
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Category:Academics of the University of Liverpool
Category:Academics of the University of Manchester
Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester
Category:Alumni of University College London
Category:British astrophysicists
Category:British people of Irish descent
Category:21st-century British astronomers
Category:Jodrell Bank Observatory
Category:People from Littleborough, Greater Manchester