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Photo of Miss Anna Laws

Miss Anna Laws

Postgraduate

Email:

Telephone: 01392 725519

Extension: (Streatham) 5519

I study the structure and composition of dust in protoplanetary disks, the birthplaces of planets, using both observations and radiative transfer modelling. So far I have mostly been reducing and analysing data from the Gemini Planet Imager, where we are conducting a survey of over 30 stellar objects with circumstellar material. I also collaborate with Prof. John Monnier and his team at University of Michigan, having visited for a long-term attachment in spring 2018.   I am currently co-chair of the Women in Physics network where we have regular meetings to discuss issues faced by women in physics and academia.  

Relevant publications:

"Multiple Spiral Arms in the Disk around Intermediate-mass Binary HD 34700A" - Monnier, Harries, Bae, Setterholm, Laws et al. 2019, ApJ, 872, 122

Recent presentations:

  • 2.5minute Flash Talk - Early Career Researcher Network Conference 2019, Exeter (Feb. 2019)
  • "The Structure of Protoplanetary Discs" - CEMPS PGR Conference, Exeter (Jan. 2019)
  • "The Structure of Protoplanetary Discs" - BBECss Student Seminar, Bristol (Nov. 2018) 
  • "Polarized light scattered from YSOs seen with the Gemini Planet Imager" (Poster) - SPF2 Conference (Star and Planet Formation 2), AZ, U.S.A. (Mar. 2018)

Responsibilities at Exeter:

  • Co-chair of the Exeter Women in Physics network (2019–Present)
  • Organising committee member of CEMPS PGR Conference (2018)

Outreach:

I frequently get involved with outreach to the general public and local schools. Recently I have been involved with community stargazing nights around Exeter.

Academic record:

University of Southampton, "MPhys Astrophysics with Year Abroad" (2017).

Master's project was completed at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, U.S.A. (2017).