Dr. Conor Byrne

Biography

Conor Byrne is a postdoctoral research associate in the Astronomy and Astrophysics group at the University of Warwick, where he works under the guidance of Elizabeth Stanway. His current research focuses on the role of non-solar scaled elemental abundances in the interpretation of stellar populations in the era of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). He utilizes these observations to analyze distant galaxies in unprecedented detail, particularly the significance of solar-scaled abundance patterns, which appear to have weaknesses in theoretical models supported by significant observational evidence from low metallicity environments that exhibit higher alpha-to-iron ratios than those found in the local universe. Furthermore, Byrne has been involved in developing binary population synthesis codes to quantify the importance of using appropriate stellar models and the uncertainties introduced by changing model assumptions. His PhD research provided insights into the evolution of hot low-mass stars and the role atomic diffusion processes play in the behavior of unusual stars arising from interactions in binary systems. He has a strong interest in education outreach, co-leading the Astronomy Group's initiatives and operating an inflatable planetarium at various science festivals and schools in the West Midlands, reaching up to 2000 visitors each year. Additionally, he enjoys hiking, reading, and has a notable experience in meteorological observations, contributing to the longest daily climate series in the UK and Ireland.

Research Interests