Professor Isobel Hook
Professor of AstrophysicsResearch Overview
My research is focused on using distant supernovae for cosmology, specifically to measure the effects of Dark Energy in the universe. I am also involved in telescope projects including ESA's Euclid mission, the future Rubin Observatory that will carry out the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), the 4-metre Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (4MOST) and the European Extremely Large telescope (ELT).
Web Links
My publications can be found on my public ORCID profile here:
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2960-978X
PhD Supervision Interests
Project Title: Distant Type Ia supernovae and dark energy. Dark energy is often invoked as the cause of the accelerating expansion of the universe, but its nature remains unknown. Several new telescopes and surveys will soon address this issue. This PhD project aims to advance the use of Type Ia supernovae as distance indicators for cosmology, using a combination of simulations and data from these new telescopes. Specifically, the student will work on surveys with the Rubin Observatory, ESA's Euclid mission and/or 4MOST (the 4meter Multi-Object Spectrograph Telescope). These surveys will detect tens of thousands of new supernovae and their host galaxies with a range of imaging and spectroscopic observations at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. The project will start by working with collaborators to prepare for and collect the new datasets. The first dataset available is from the Euclid mission, which was launched in July 2023 and is now producing spectacular images that are being used to search for supernovae. As the dataset increases in size, the project will move towards searching for statistical correlations among various properties of the supernovae and their environments. This information will be used to improve the accuracy of Type Ia supernova distance measurements, and hence ultimately improve constraints on the nature of Dark Energy. Please contact Prof Isobel Hook for further information. This PhD project represents just one component of the research performed by the wider Astrophysics group at Lancaster University. Our PhD projects are offered on a competitive basis and are subject to availability of funding.
A new wave of transients: supernova cosmology with the Rubin Observatory, 4MOST and Euclid
01/04/2024 → 29/09/2027
Research
Joint processing of Euclid and Rubin data
01/01/2024 → 28/02/2025
Research
First Data from Next Generation Supernova Surveys
01/09/2023 → 30/09/2025
Research
Talent and Research Stabilisation Fund 2022 (Manus Hayne)
21/11/2022 → 31/03/2023
Research
Lancaster University Observational Astrophysics 2021-2024 (OAstro21)
01/04/2021 → 31/03/2025
Research
Lancaster University: Observational Astrophysics PATT grant 2018-2020
01/10/2018 → 30/09/2020
Research
Lancaster University Astrophysics
01/04/2017 → 31/03/2018
Research
Observational Astrophysics PATT grant
01/10/2016 → 30/09/2018
Research
UK-E-ELT
01/01/2016 → 31/03/2019
Research
OPTICON: Optical Infrared Co-ordination Network for Astronomy
01/03/2015 → 31/12/2016
Research
ESLAB Euclid symposium 2025
Participation in conference - Academic
Transients from Space
Participation in conference - Academic
Euclid Consortium Board (External organisation)
Membership of board
European Org Astron Res Southern Hemisphere ESO (External organisation)
Membership of council
National Astronomy Meeting 2019
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Observational Astrophysics
Observational Astrophysics
Observational Astrophysics
- Observational Astrophysics