Hello, I’m Christopher Berry, a Senior Lecturer in the Institute for Gravitational Research at the University of Glasgow. I am a theoretical physicist, who has somehow become an observational astronomer.

I spend most of my time studying gravitational waves and how we can use them to learn more about our Universe. I work closely with the other awesome members of my research group on gravitational-wave data analysis and compact object astrophysics—it really is a lot of fun. I am an active member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, where I am kept busy analysing our LIGO–Virgo discoveries (I took great pride in being able to update Have we detected gravitational waves yet?). To find out a little more, have a look at my research page; I also try to write a blog post about each of my papers (I’m extremely behind at the moment).

Previously, I had the privilege of being the CIERA Board of Visitors Research Professor at Northwestern University. Prior to that I was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Birmingham. Before that that I was a PhD student at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge; my supervisor was Jonathan Gair. Together with others in the former Cambridge Gravity Group, I have designed a webpage for producing cartoon gravitational-wave sensitivity curves. I read Natural Sciences as an undergraduate in Cambridge, at Churchill College. It’s a beautiful place, especially if you like right angles.

Outside of research, I am enjoy a variety of outreach activities. I’d especially recommend the Astronomer Evenings at the Dearborn Observatory at Northwestern, and Astronomy in the City in Birmingham (during the winter months). It’s all quite exciting.