Or Graur

University of Portsmouth

Email:

ograurSPAMFILTER@amnh.org

Education

• PhD, Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University & American Museum of Natural History, 2013
• BSc, Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University (magna cum laude), 2007

Research Interests

I am a Reader (Associate Professor) in Astrophysics at the University of Portsmouth's Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation.

I study supernovae - the explosions of stars - as well as other transient astrophysical phenomena. I use observations (images and spectra) obtained with ground- and space-based observatories and large-scale spectroscopic surveys (such as SDSS and DESI). I am specifically interested in uncovering the nature of the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae, studying these supernovae when they are several years old, and conducting population studies of supernovae in general. I am also working on discovering and characterizing tidal disruption events - flares caused by stars that are ripped apart by super-massive black holes - and the galaxies in which they occur.

For a taste of my research, watch the videos below:

Publications

Supernova (MIT Press, 2022): a concise introduction to the history and physics of supernovae

Teaching Experience

2021 - present: Course scientist, AMNH Seminars on Science

2011 - 2016: Mentor, AMNH Science Research Mentoring Program