ProfessorStas Shabala

Stas Shabala leads the Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics group at the School of Natural Sciences (Physics), University of Tasmania. He is a Professor in Sciences and Engineering, and Associate Head of Research for the School of Natural Sciences.

Shabala’s primary area of research is extragalactic astrophysics, with a focus on the formation and evolution of galaxies, and the physics of active supermassive black holes (Active Galactic Nuclei; AGN). Shabala develops and applies analytical and computational techniques in modelling and data analysis. Shabala is an experienced university teacher and research advisor, and contributes to shaping the direction of the disciplines of physics, astronomy and STEM education through roles at university, national and international levels.

Biography

Shabala completed a PhD in astrophysics and cosmology at the University of Cambridge in 2008. He held an Astor Junior Research Fellowship at Oxford University and New College (2008-2010), before returning to Tasmania to take up an ARC Super Science Fellowship (2011-2013), followed by an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Fellowship (2013-2016). He has been in a balanced (40-40-20) research and teaching role at UTAS since 2016. In 2022-23, Shabala spent 12 months working as a science policy adviser at the Office of Australia's Chief Scientist.

Shabala founded the Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Group in 2014. His group develops the theoretical tools required for interpretation of next-generation large sky surveys, including by the Square Kilometre Array and its pathfinders, through analytical and computational modelling of relativistic synchrotron jets. Applied research areas include development of new observing and analysis techniques for geodetic and astrometric Very Long Baseline Interferometry, including detailed consideration of relativistic jet physics. The group’s research has strong synergies with data science, including Bayesian parameter inference and analysis of large data sets.

Shabala is immediate past President of the Astronomical Society of Australia, and former Editor-in-Chief of the Q1 journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. He has worked as a science policy adviser to Australia's Chief Scientist, Dr Cathy Foley.

Career summary

Qualifications
PhD University of Cambridge UK 25/07/2008
BSc (1st Class Hons) University of Tasmania Australia 16/12/2003

Languages (other than English)
Russian

Science leadership
Chair, Australia Telescope Users Committee
President, Astronomical Society of Australia
Science Policy Fellow, Office of Australia's Chief Scientist
Editor-in-Chief, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia

Member, National Committee for Astronomy

Member, National Committee for Physics

Administrative expertise

Associate Head Research (School of Natural Sciences)
Bachelor of Science (Catalyst) program coordinator
Honours Coordinator (Physics)
Bachelor of Science Dean’s Summer Research Studentship coordinator
Member, UTAS Monitoring and Assurance Committee (MAC)