Nicholas Tothill

Associate Professor Nicholas Tothill is a Senior Lecturer and Director of WSU Penrith Observatory at Western Sydney University's School of Science. With extensive international experience including positions at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, he specializes in astrophysics, radio astronomy, and astronomical instrumentation.

Education

• BA in Natural Sciences (Physics and Theoretical Physics), Cambridge University, UK
• MSc in Radioastronomy, University of Manchester, UK
• PhD in Astrophysics, University of London, UK

Research Interests

Nicholas Tothill's research focuses on astronomical and space science applications of event-based cameras, radio astronomy, millimetre-wave astronomy, optical spectroscopy, and cosmic-ray astronomy. His work spans the astrophysics of distant galaxies, star formation processes, and galactic cosmic rays. He has conducted research at the South Pole running radio telescopes and has extensive experience with various astronomical instrumentation and data analysis techniques.

Publication Trends

Tothill's recent publications (2019-2023) show strong focus on binary star systems, radio astronomy surveys of Magellanic Clouds, and development of astronomical instrumentation, particularly neuromorphic event-based cameras for space imaging. His work bridges observational astronomy with instrument development, contributing to major projects like the Cherenkov Telescope Array.

Scientific Awards

• Antarctica Service Medal, US NSF
• Member, Astronomical Society of Australia

Advising and Grants

Professor Tothill supervises research students in computational astrophysics and has been involved in significant research projects including the European Commission-funded "Advancing European submillimetre/terahertz astronomy in Antarctica" (2006-2008). His work combines theoretical astrophysics with practical observational techniques across multiple wavelengths.

Laboratories and Teams

As Director of WSU Penrith Observatory, Tothill leads observational astronomy efforts at Western Sydney University. He is associated with the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems and has collaborated extensively with international teams on projects including the JCMT Gould Belt Survey, ASKAP surveys, and Cherenkov Telescope Array development.