Oscar Agertz

Assistant professor in astronomy at Lund University

Membership period 2021–2026

The topic of my research is theoretical astrophysics, with a focus on how stars and galaxies form. Why does the Universe, given its 13.8 billion years of evolution, produce such a fantastic variation of galaxies that we observe today? How did the Milky Way form? Is there a limit to how small or large galaxies can be? Why do some galaxies stop forming stars? These are examples of questions that me and my research group are trying to answer, often with the help of numerical models run on large supercomputers. These simulations allow us to study, and constrain, the physics that govern galaxy evolution, and how phenomena, such as galaxy collisions, affect their lives..

MORE INFO

Lunds universitet, How disorderly young galaxies grow up and mature External link, opens in new window.

IMAGES

Foto: Oscar Agertz and Florent Renaud et al

Zoom image

Using a supercomputer, the researchers created a high-resolution simulation. (Click to enlarge) Image: Oscar Agertz, Florent Renaud et al External link, opens in new window.

CONTACT

Oscar Agertz at Lund University External link, opens in new window.

oscar.agertz@astro.lu.se

Click for high resolution press portrait. Photo: Lena Björk Blixt

IN BRIEF

Born: 1980
Interests: I love being with family and friends. I'm extra happy when I can spend an entire afternoon cooking and listening to music. I enjoy reading, and in my spare time it is mainly literature that has nothing to do with my research area.
Other: I have lived and done research in Switzerland, the US and the UK before I returned to Sweden.

“I am part of the Young Academy of Sweden to be able to work for good research having a more prevalent presence in our society. Questions that are important to me are how science and scientific thinking are communicated, mainly to young people and children, and how equal and transparent career paths for young researchers can be improved. In addition to this, I am interested in the Academy's policy work, and how we can safeguard and promote independent and well-funded basic research.”