Observational Astrophysics - Multi-object Absorption Line Spectroscopy
The nearby Centaurus A (aka NGC5128) galaxy shows a wealth of potential globular cluster (GCs) candidates that require spectroscopic confirmation via radial velocity measurements. To address this, spectra were obtained for ~1800 GC candidates using the Anglo-Australian Telescope. These spectra need to be analyzed to determine their line-of-sight velocities - confirming their natures as CenA GCs or foreground stars - and stellar population characteristics. Once confirmed, the kinematics and stellar population information will be used to constrain the cosmological mass assembly of their iconic giant galaxy host.

Observational Astrophysics - Searching for Black Holes with JWST
Black holes (BHs) are the densest forms of matter in the Universe, with gravity so extreme that not even light itself can escape once fallen under a BH's influence. Supermassive BHs are known to exist in the centres of all giant galaxies that have been searched, and despite much study has been dedicated to their formation and growth, there is still much to be understood. In this project, we are using the James Webb Space Telescope to obtain spatially resolved spectral datacubes of several compact stellar systems in the Virgo galaxy cluster. With expected data acquisition in late 2022, these data will be analyzed in various ways to determine various characteristics of the star clusters. In particular, absorption line spectroscopy will reveal (or not) the dynamical influence of any massive BHs that may be present, which will have important implications on our understanding of BHs that we observe in the local Universe.

Observational Astronomy - Neighbourhood Watch: an OIR program to survey the local universe
Neighbourhood Watch is an ongoing, internationally based program to survey multiple galaxies within 20Mpc that reside in regions of varying local galaxy density. Using various optical and near-infrared (OIR) telescopes/instruments around the world, we are imaging nearby galaxies that are either in loosely associated, well defined, and/or compact groups, or even in massive nearby galaxy clusters like Fornax. Our aim is to identify and study the satellite systems of such galaxies/groups/clusters, including rich systems of globular clusters (GCs) and dwarf galaxies. These satellites provide important leverage on the assembly history of their host groups and thus can be used to tease out the relative importance of secular and/or environmental affects on overall galaxy formation and evolution.