Stas Shabala

Professor Stas Shabala is a faculty member at the School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, where he serves as Associate Head Research and Professor of Physics. His academic career spans theoretical and observational astrophysics, with a focus on supermassive black holes and galaxy evolution, as well as geodesy and data science.

• PhD in Astrophysics and Cosmology, University of Cambridge (2008)
• BSc (1st Class Hons) in Physics, University of Tasmania (2003)

Shabala's research expertise lies in extragalactic astrophysics, particularly the formation and evolution of galaxies and the physics of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). His group develops analytical and computational models for black hole jets and their interactions with galactic environments, contributing to understanding galaxy evolution and AGN feedback. In geodesy, his work improves Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) techniques for Earth orientation measurements. He also integrates data science methodologies for Bayesian inference and large dataset analysis.

His recent publications align with cosmological simulations of AGN jets, studies of radio galaxy morphology, and analysis of high-redshift protoclusters. Projects often leverage data from next-generation telescopes like SKA pathfinders, MeerKAT, and ASKAP.

• Endeavour Research Fellowship (2018)
• ARC Super Science Fellowship (2011-2013)
• ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (2013-2016)

Shabala supervises PhD students in astrophysics and geodesy, with completed projects on topics including AGN jet dynamics, interstellar lifecycle, and radio source polarization. He also coordinates physics teaching units at UTAS, emphasizing problem-solving and real-world applications. His international collaborations span institutions in the UK, Netherlands, Austria, and Australia, with active roles in science policy and academic leadership as President of the Astronomical Society of Australia.