Nikole Nielsen

Dr. Nikole Nielsen is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Swinburne University of Technology and an Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma. She holds dual appointments in the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing (Swinburne) and the Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy (OU). Her research focuses on the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of galaxies, studying gas kinematics, ionization states, and metal content to understand galaxy evolution processes like accretion and outflows. She has held roles including ASTRO 3D Fellow and Postdoctoral Research Associate at Swinburne from 2015–2024.

Education: PhD in Astronomy (New Mexico State University, 2015), M.S. in Astronomy (2013), B.S. in Astrophysics (Michigan State University, 2009). Awards include the Swinburne Director's Outstanding Achievement Award (2022) and multiple recognitions for research excellence. She supervises PhD students in areas like galactic outflows and CGM dynamics.

Research highlights include mapping the transition between galactic disks and CGM using emission-line data (Nature Astronomy, 2024), resolving outflow properties in starburst galaxies (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2024), and studying gas kinematics in multiphase CGM (2024). Her work bridges observations with simulations, emphasizing resolved spatial data to understand galaxy evolution.

Grants include an NSF East Asia-Pacific Summer Institute fellowship (2012) and ASTRO 3D funding. Teaching includes courses on extragalactic astronomy and cosmology at OU. Outreach efforts include coordinating public astronomy events and mentoring students. Current team includes postdocs and graduate students at OU.