Alex Richings

Dr. Alex Richings is a Lecturer in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Modelling at the University of Hull, affiliated with the Centre for Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Modelling (DAIM) and the E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics. He holds a PhD in Astrophysics from Leiden University (2015), with postdoctoral experience at Durham University (2018–2022) and Northwestern University (2016–2018). His research focuses on galaxy formation and evolution using numerical simulations, particularly modeling non-equilibrium chemistry in interstellar gas to interpret observations and refine cosmological models.

Richings develops the CHIMES chemical model, which tracks ionization states and molecular abundances in simulations. He investigates molecular outflows driven by active galactic nuclei (AGN) winds and their role in galaxy evolution. His work bridges theoretical models with observational data, such as analyzing James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) surveys. He leads grants funded by NASA and the Royal Astronomical Society, focusing on molecular emission predictions and AGN-driven outflows.

Richings teaches the 'Fundamentals of Data Science' module for the MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. He collaborates internationally and contributes to open-source software for astrophysical simulations. His research aims to understand gas cooling processes, star formation regulation, and the interplay between chemistry and radiation in galactic environments.