معرفی
David Alexander is a Professor of Astronomy at Durham University, where he serves as Head of Astronomy and Director of the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy (CEA). He earned his PhD from the University of Hertfordshire in 1999 and has held postdoctoral positions at SISSA in Italy (1999-2000) and Pennsylvania State University (2000-2003). His academic career includes an 8-year Royal Society University Research Fellowship held at Cambridge University (2003-2006) before transferring to Durham University (2006-2010). He was promoted from Reader (associate professor) to full Professor in 2011.
His research focuses on Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and supermassive black hole growth, particularly examining their relationship with star formation through cosmic time. He utilizes X-ray, optical infrared, and submillimetre observations, with emphasis on the NuSTAR X-ray surveys and Chandra Deep Field Surveys. His work centers on identifying rapidly evolving objects often obscured by dust and gas, developing specialized techniques to detect and characterize these sources.
Professor Alexander has published approximately 380 peer-reviewed papers with over 42,000 citations and maintains an impressive h-index of 106. His research group at Durham has been highly productive, mentoring numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. He has co-organized biennial international workshops with Ryan Hickox since 2010, focusing on AGN activity and black hole growth.
Scientific Awards:
- Royal Society University Research Fellowship (2003)
- Philip Leverhulme Prize (2008)
- Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2012)
- Highly Cited Researchers in Space Science (2014-2019)
Professor Alexander has supervised an extensive research group at Durham since 2006, with current and former members now holding positions at prestigious institutions worldwide including Dartmouth College, University of Cambridge, ESO, and numerous universities across Europe and North America. His Durham-Dartmouth AGN workshop series has become a significant forum for researchers in this field, continuing despite challenges including volcanic eruptions and the global pandemic.
