DoctorJim Palfreyman

Dr Jim Palfreyman specialises in pulsars – in particular the Vela pulsar. This pulsar is famous for “glitching” or suddenly speeding up in rotation. He caught the Vela pulsar glitch of 2016 with the University of Tasmania radio telescope at Mount Pleasant. This telescope was large enough to observe individual pulses. This has evaded astronomers from all around the world for 50 years and his results were featured in Nature.

Biography

Jim has not followed a traditional academic path. After graduating in the 80s with a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science he pursued a career in computing. Decades later he returned to his original passion of astronomy and acquired a Masters and then a PhD in astrophysics. He also loves teaching mathematics – as it is the language of science.

Career summary
Qualifications

PhD A Long-term Single-pulse Study of the Vela Pulsar University of Tasmania Australia 2018
M.Sc.

Consecutive Bright Pulses in the Vela pulsar
University of Tasmania Australia 2012
B.Sc(Hons) Graphics Simulation of Solar Eclipses University of Tasmania Australia 1985