Profile
Robert Grand
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About Me:
Hello! I’m an astronomer living in Liverpool with my family. I love playing 5-a-side football, going for hikes, and Lord of the Rings!
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I am originally from Newcastle and I am a huge football fan. In my spare time, I also like playing video games, cooking and reading fantasy novels. For several years, I lived abroad in Germany and Spain as part of my job, even though my Spanish and German could be better!
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My pronouns are:
He/him
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My Work:
I’m an astronomer, and I am interested in galaxies like the Milky Way. I use big computers to make galaxies. I look at how they have changed since the Big Bang.
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Our computer simulations can re-create how galaxies form and change over 13 billion years.
We aim to understand how dark matter and black holes work as well. Dark matter is invisible, but there is about 5 times as much of it as ordinary matter that we can see. It’s a mystery!
We also study how galaxies smash together, which happened in our Milky Way about 10 billion years ago.
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My Typical Day:
I wake up and have breakfast (coffee and peanut butter on toast).
Most days I go to my lab at about 9am, where I work on my galaxy simulations, and discuss the latest results with my work friends and my students. Some days I work from home and meet with people on Zoom or Teams.
At about 5pm, I go back home.
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Sometimes, I get to visit other astronomers all around the world. Last year, I went to Tenerife, Munich, and London. I have also been to Chile, China, and California to discuss science and eat some very tasty food!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would put the money towards developing a galaxy-themed board game that could be taken into schools via our institute’s National Schools Observatory.
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Education:
I went to St Thomas More comprehensive school in Blaydon, Gateshead in the north east of England. In sixth form, I came into my first contact with astronomy – it was a module of my A-level physics course. It became my favourite one. I applied to University to become a doctor, but my reserve choices were astrophysics at Leeds University, which I ended up choosing. This led to my career today.
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Qualifications:
I got 10 GCSEs at Thomas More (7 A*s and 3 As). I got 4 A-levels in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Maths. I then went to Leeds University where I got a Masters degree in physics and astronomy, before going to University College London to get a PhD in astrophysics. Although my grades did not need to be this good, they helped me pass each stage I needed for my career.
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Work History:
After my PhD, I took several jobs in astronomy, known as postdocs. These included: 4 years in Heidelberg (Germany), 3 years in Munich, and 2 years in Tenerife. These jobs were vital for gaining experience, knowledge, and meeting new people.
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Current Job:
I now work as a senior lecturer at the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University, since 2023.
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Employer:
Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
football-loving galactic astronomer
What did you want to be after you left school?
Doctor
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Not seriously
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Software developer
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Muse
What's your favourite food?
Pizza
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
A more equal society, my family to stay healthy, and to see New Zealand and Japan.
Tell us a joke.
I was wrong once. I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't.
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
perfectionist. collaborative. introvert.
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