Professor Chris Clarkson

Profile

I'm a cosmologist, concentrating mainly on large-scale structure in the universe. I study how to observe signatures of general relativity on large scales. Other things I look at are constraining curvature, dark energy, and modifications to general relativity in different ways. I also consider constraints on homogeneity and isotropy which tests the Copernican Principle. 

I am currently a Reader in Cosmology, a position I started in 2016. Before this, I was an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics where I retain an Adjunct position. I am also a visiting Extraordinary Professor at the University of the Western Cape, also in Cape Town. 

I completed my PhD in 1999 at the University of Glasgow, and I did postdocs at Dalhousie University in Canada, and the University of Cape Town. I was also a lecturer at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth. 

Teaching

I'm currently the Module Organiser for Mathematical Techniques 1, SPA4121. You can find a load of videos to go with this course here. 

I previously taught Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, SPA5302 
Lecture Notes on Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics [PDF 14,553KB]

I've also taught courses on astronomy, differential equations, mathematical methods, thermodynamics, statistical physics, general relativity, cosmology, classical physics, fluids, dynamics, stars and black holes, ...

Research

Research Interests:

See Chris Clarkson’s research profile pages including details of research interests, publications, and live grants.

Supervision

I'm currently supervising 2 PhD students at QMUL, and I have supervised numerous PhD students in Cape Town, many of whom have gone onto postdoctoral or other reseach. I would be happy to discuss PhD project possibilities in many areas of gravity and cosmology. Here's an example of a PhD project: Relativistic Cosmology in The Era of Large Scale Surveys