Nicholas Walton

Nicholas Walton is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, with affiliations across astrophysics, cosmology, and medical imaging. His work bridges cutting-edge astronomy projects like ESA’s Gaia mission with biomedical initiatives.

• PhD in Physics from Imperial College London
• MBA from the Open University
• BSc (Hons) in Physics from the University of Nottingham

Research interests include:

• Assembly history of the Milky Way
• Supernova cosmology and alerts
• Exoplanet-host star connections
• Spatial molecular profiling in tumors
• Development of medical imaging platforms

His recent publications focus on astrophysics and biomedical data analysis, reflecting his dual expertise. Awards include the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2015) and the Gruber Prize for Cosmology (2007).

Key projects:

• Lead of the UK Gaia project (2021–present)
• Chair of the COST Action CA18104/MW-Gaia (2019–2023)
• Co-Investigator in the IMAXT Cancer Research UK Grand Challenge Team (2017–2024)
• Director of the PathGrid medical imaging project