Dr Cosimo Inserra
(he/him)

PhD, MSc, BSc

Reader
Associate Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity - College of Physical Sciences and Engineering

: Available for postgraduate supervision

I am an observational astrophysicist working on cosmic explosions, called supernovae, that characterise the death of a star. My current research focuses on the brightest supernovae explosions, usually referred to as "superluminous supernovae", and their use as high-redshift probes. I am also interested in the role of interaction and shocks on astronomical transients, as well as those reaching their maximum light and fading soon after in a few weeks, usually referred to as Fast transients or Fast, Blue, Optical transients (FBOTs). I am also working on the implementation of machine learning techniques for transient astronomy to classify and categorise different kinds of supernovae and extreme transients.

I have been awarded the 2021 MERAC Prize as the Best Early Career Researcher in Observational Astrophysics for the investigation of the extremes of stellar explosions, providing a pioneering contribution to their understanding and their role in astronomy and astrophysics.

My current institutional roles are the following:

Associate Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, College of Physical Sciences & Engineering

My UKRI Council and international roles are:

REF2029 People and Diversity Advisory Panel member
STFC Education, Training, and Career Committee member
STFC Astronomy Advisory Panel member
LSST:UK Executive Board member and UK Point of Contact for extragalactic astronomy
European Astronomical Society Equity and Diversity Advisory Panel member (chair from 2022 to 2023)

In the past, I have also been Interim Director of Research and Deputy Director of Research at the School of Physics and Astronomy. I have also been Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) Committee at the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Date
Type

2021

Medler, K. et al. 2021. SN2020cpg: an energetic link between Type IIb and Ib supernovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 506(2), pp. 1832-1849. (10.1093/mnras/stab1761)
Gutiérrez, C. et al. 2021. The double-peaked Type Ic supernova 2019cad: another SN 2005bf-like object. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 504(4), pp. 4907-4922. (10.1093/mnras/stab1009)
Inserra, C. et al. 2021. The first Hubble diagram and cosmological constraints using superluminous supernovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 504(2), pp. 2535-2549. (10.1093/mnras/stab978)
Cannizzaro, G. et al. 2021. Accretion disc cooling and narrow absorption lines in the tidal disruption event AT2019dsg. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 504(1), pp. 792-815. (10.1093/mnras/stab851)
Kankare, E. et al. 2021. Core-collapse supernova subtypes in luminous infrared galaxies. Astronomy and Astrophysics 649, article number: A134. (10.1051/0004-6361/202039240)
Fiore, A. et al. 2021. SN 2017gci: a nearby type I superluminous supernova with a bumpy tail. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 502(2), pp. 2120-2139., article number: staa4035. (10.1093/mnras/staa4035)
McBrien, O. R. et al. 2021. PS15cey and PS17cke: prospective candidates from the Pan-STARRS search for kilonovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 500(3), pp. 4213-4228. (10.1093/mnras/staa3361)

2020

Ackley, K. et al. 2020. Observational constraints on the optical and near-infrared emission from the neutron star-black hole binary merger candidate S190814bv. Astronomy and Astrophysics 643, article number: A113. (10.1051/0004-6361/202037669)
Prentice, S. J. et al. 2020. SN 2018gjx reveals that some SNe Ibn are SNe IIb exploding in dense circumstellar material. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 499(1), pp. 1450-1467. (10.1093/mnras/staa2947)
Gutiérrez, C. P. et al. 2020. SN 2017ivv: two years of evolution of a transitional Type II supernova. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 499(1), pp. 974-992. (10.1093/mnras/staa2763)
Nicholl, M. et al. 2020. An outflow powers the optical rise of the nearby, fast-evolving tidal disruption event AT2019qiz. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 499(1), pp. 482-504. (10.1093/mnras/staa2824)
Short, P. et al. 2020. The tidal disruption event AT 2018hyz – I. Double-peaked emission lines and a flat Balmer decrement. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 498(3), pp. 4119-4133. (10.1093/mnras/staa2065)
Barna, B. et al. 2020. SN 2019muj – a well-observed Type Iax supernova that bridges the luminosity gap of the class. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 501(1), pp. 1078-1099. (10.1093/mnras/staa3543)
Wiseman, P. et al. 2020. Supernova host galaxies in the dark energy survey: I. Deep coadds, photometry, and stellar masses. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 495(4), pp. 4040-4060. (10.1093/mnras/staa1302)
de Jaeger, T. et al. 2020. Studying type II supernovae as cosmological standard candles using the dark energy survey. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 295(4), pp. 4860-4892. (10.1093/mnras/staa1402)
Gutiérrez, C. P. et al. 2020. DES16C3cje: a low-luminosity, long-lived supernova. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 496(1), pp. 95-110. (10.1093/mnras/staa1452)
Stritzinger, M. D. et al. 2020. The Carnegie supernova project II. Astronomy and Astrophysics 639, article number: A104. (10.1051/0004-6361/202038019)
Müller-Bravo, T. E. et al. 2020. The low-luminosity Type II SN 2016aqf: a well-monitored spectral evolution of the Ni/Fe abundance ratio. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 497(1), pp. 361-377. (10.1093/mnras/staa1932)
Pursiainen, M. et al. 2020. The mystery of photometric twins DES17X1boj and DES16E2bjy. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 494(4), pp. 5576-5589. (10.1093/mnras/staa995)
Saito, S. et al. 2020. Late-phase spectropolarimetric observations of superluminous supernova SN 2017egm to probe the geometry of the inner ejecta. Astrophysical Journal 894(2), article number: 154. (10.3847/1538-4357/ab873b)
Reynolds, T. M. et al. 2020. SN 2016gsd: an unusually luminous and linear Type II supernova with high velocities. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 493(2), pp. 1761-1781. (10.1093/mnras/staa365)
Prentice, S. J. et al. 2020. The rise and fall of an extraordinary Ca-rich transient. Astronomy and Astrophysics 635, article number: A186. (10.1051/0004-6361/201936515)
Clark, P. et al. 2020. LSQ13ddu: a rapidly evolving stripped-envelope supernova with early circumstellar interaction signatures. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 492(2), pp. 2208-2228. (10.1093/mnras/stz3598)

2019

Veres, P. et al. 2019. Observation of inverse Compton emission from a long γ-ray burst. Nature 575(7783), pp. 459-463. (10.1038/s41586-019-1754-6)
McBrien, O. R. et al. 2019. SN2018kzr: A rapidly declining transient from the destruction of a white dwarf. Astrophysical Journal Letters 885(1), article number: L23. (10.3847/2041-8213/ab4dae)
Pastorello, A. et al. 2019. Luminous red novae: Stellar mergers or giant eruptions?. Astronomy and Astrophysics 630, article number: A75. (10.1051/0004-6361/201935999)
Andrews, J. E. et al. 2019. SN 2017gmr: An energetic Type II-P supernova with asymmetries. Astrophysical Journal 885, article number: 43. (10.3847/1538-4357/ab43e3)
Melandri, A. et al. 2019. GRB 171010A / SN 2017htp: a GRB-SN at z=0.33. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 490(4), pp. 5366-5374. (10.1093/mnras/stz2900)
Galbany, L. et al. 2019. Evidence for a Chandrasekhar-mass explosion in the Ca-strong 1991bg-like type Ia supernova 2016hnk. Astronomy and Astrophysics 630, pp. A76., article number: A76. (10.1051/0004-6361/201935537)
Pastorello, A. et al. 2019. A luminous stellar outburst during a long-lasting eruptive phase first, and then SN IIn 2018cnf. Astronomy and Astrophysics 628, article number: A93. (10.1051/0004-6361/201935420)
Inserra, C. 2019. Observational properties of extreme supernovae. Nature Astronomy 3(8), pp. 697-705. (10.1038/s41550-019-0854-4)
Angus, C. R. et al. 2019. Superluminous supernovae from the dark energy survey. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 487(2), pp. 2215-2241. (10.1093/mnras/stz1321)
Pastorello, A. et al. 2019. The evolution of luminous red nova AT 2017jfs in NGC 4470 [Letter to the editor]. Astronomy and Astrophysics 625, article number: L8. (10.1051/0004-6361/201935511)
Prentice, S. J. et al. 2019. Investigating the properties of stripped-envelope supernovae; what are the implications for their progenitors?. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 485(2), pp. 1559-1578. (10.1093/mnras/sty3399)
Bostroem, K. A. et al. 2019. Signatures of circumstellar interaction in the Type IIL supernova ASASSN-15oz. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 485(4), pp. 5120-5141. (10.1093/mnras/stz570)
Gromadzki, M. et al. 2019. Discovery and follow-up of the unusual nuclear transient OGLE17aaj. Astronomy and Astrophysics 622, article number: L2. (10.1051/0004-6361/201833682)
Dimitriadis, G. et al. 2019. K2 observations of SN 2018oh reveal a two-component rising light curve for a type Ia aupernova. Astrophysical Journal Letters 870(1), pp. L1. (10.3847/2041-8213/aaedb0)
Li, W. et al. 2019. Photometric and spectroscopic properties of type Ia supernova 2018oh with early excess emission from the kepler 2 observations. Astrophysical Journal 870(1) (10.3847/1538-4357/aaec74)

2018

Anderson, J. et al. 2018. A nearby super-luminous supernova with a long pre-maximum & "plateau" and strong C II features.. Astronomy & Astrophysics 620, pp. 1-16., article number: A67. (10.1051/0004-6361/201833725)
Chen, T. et al. 2018. SN 2017ens: The metamorphosis of a luminous broadlined type Ic supernova into an SN IIn. Astrophysical Journal Letters 867(2), pp. -., article number: L31. (10.3847/2041-8213/aaeb2e)
Cikota, A. et al. 2018. Testing the magnetar scenario for superluminous supernovae with circular polarimetry. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 479(4), pp. 4984-4990. (10.1093/mnras/sty1891)
Pursiainen, M. et al. 2018. Rapidly evolving transients in the Dark Energy Survey. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 481(1), pp. 894-917. (10.1093/mnras/sty2309)
Gutiérrez, C. P. et al. 2018. Type II supernovae in low-luminosity host galaxies. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 479(3), pp. 3232-3253. (10.1093/mnras/sty1581)
Anderson, J. P. et al. 2018. The lowest-metallicity type II supernova from the highest-mass red supergiant progenitor. Nature Astronomy 2(7), pp. 574-579. (10.1038/s41550-018-0458-4)
Tomasella, L. et al. 2018. SNe 2013K and 2013am: observed and physical properties of two slow, normal Type IIP events. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 475(2), pp. 1937-1959. (10.1093/mnras/stx3220)
Inserra, C. et al. 2018. On the nature of hydrogen-rich superluminous supernovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 475(1), pp. 1046-1072. (10.1093/mnras/stx3179)
Maguire, K. et al. 2018. Using late-time optical and near-infrared spectra to constrain Type Ia supernova explosion properties. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 477(3), pp. 3567-3582. (10.1093/mnras/sty820)
Inserra, C., Prajs, S., Gutierrez, C. P., Angus, C., Smith, M. and Sullivan, M. 2018. A statistical approach to identify superluminous supernovae and probe their diversity. Astrophysical Journal 854(2), pp. 175. (10.3847/1538-4357/aaaaaa)
Kuncarayakti, H. et al. 2018. SN 2017dio: A type-Ic supernova exploding in a hydrogen-rich circumstellar medium. Astrophysical Journal Letters 854(1), pp. -. (10.3847/2041-8213/aaaa1a)
Smith, M. et al. 2018. Studying the ultraviolet spectrum of the first spectroscopically confirmed supernova at Redshift Two. Astrophysical Journal 854(1), article number: 37. (10.3847/1538-4357/aaa126)
Inserra, C. et al. 2018. Euclid: Superluminous supernovae in the Deep Survey. Astronomy and Astrophysics 609, pp. A83-A85. (10.1051/0004-6361/201731758)
Tartaglia, L. et al. 2018. The early detection and follow-up of the highly obscured type II supernova 2016ija/DLT16am. Astrophysical Journal 853(1), pp. 62. (10.3847/1538-4357/aaa014)
Terreran, G. et al. 2018. Publisher Correction: Hydrogen-rich supernovae beyond the neutrino-driven core-collapse paradigm. Nature Astronomy 2(2), pp. 173. (10.1038/s41550-017-0364-1)

2017

Kankare, E. et al. 2017. A population of highly energetic transient events in the centres of active galaxies. Nature Astronomy 1(12), pp. 865-871. (10.1038/s41550-017-0290-2)
Smartt, S. J. et al. 2017. A kilonova as the electromagnetic counterpart to a gravitational-wave source. Nature 551, pp. 75-79. (10.1038/nature24303)
Barbarino, C. et al. 2017. LSQ14efd: observations of the cooling of a shock break-out event in a type Ic Supernova. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 471(2), pp. 2463-2480. (10.1093/mnras/stx1709)
Abbott, B. P. et al. 2017. Multi-messenger observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger. Astrophysical Journal Letters 848(2), article number: L12. (10.3847/2041-8213/aa91c9)
Chen, T. et al. 2017. Spatially resolved MaNGA observations of the host galaxy of superluminous supernova 2017egm. Astrophysical Journal Letters 849(1), pp. L4. (10.3847/2041-8213/aa8f40)
Terreran, G. et al. 2017. Hydrogen-rich supernovae beyond the neutrino-driven core-collapse paradigm. Nature Astronomy 1(10), pp. 713-720. (10.1038/s41550-017-0228-8)
Inserra, C. et al. 2017. Complexity in the light curves and spectra of slow-evolving superluminous supernovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 468(4), pp. 4642-4662. (10.1093/mnras/stx834)
Hachinger, S. et al. 2017. Type Ia supernovae with and without blueshifted narrow Na i D lines lines - how different is their structure?. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 471(1), pp. 491-506. (10.1093/mnras/stx1578)
Karamehmetoglu, E. et al. 2017. OGLE-2014-SN-131: A long-rising type Ibn supernova from a massive progenitor. Astronomy and Astrophysics 602, article number: A93. (10.1051/0004-6361/201629619)
Chen, T. et al. 2017. Superluminous supernova progenitors have a half-solar metallicity threshold. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 470(3), pp. 3566-3573. (10.1093/mnras/stx1428)
Chen, T. et al. 2017. The evolution of superluminous supernova LSQ14mo and its interacting host galaxy system. Astronomy and Astrophysics 602, article number: A9. (10.1051/0004-6361/201630163)
Bruce, A. et al. 2017. Spectral analysis of four 'hypervariable' AGN: a micro-needle in the haystack?. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 467(2), article number: stx168. (10.1093/mnras/stx168)
Pian, E. et al. 2017. Optical photometry and spectroscopy of the low-luminosity, broad-lined Ic supernova iPTF15dld. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 466(2), pp. 1848-1856. (10.1093/mnras/stw3247)
Hosseinzadeh, G. et al. 2017. Type Ibn supernovae show photometric homogeneity and spectral diversity at maximum light. Astrophysical Journal 836(2), article number: 158. (10.3847/1538-4357/836/2/158)
Tartaglia, L. et al. 2017. The progenitor and early evolution of the type IIb SN 2016gkg. Astrophysical Journal Letters 836(1), article number: L12. (10.3847/2041-8213/aa5c7f)
Cartier, R. et al. 2017. Early observations of the nearby Type Ia supernova SN 2015F. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 464(4), pp. 4476-4494. (10.1093/mnras/stw2678)
Jerkstrand, A. et al. 2017. Long-duration superluminous supernovae at late times. Astrophysical Journal 835(1), article number: 13. (10.3847/1538-4357/835/1/13)
Stalder, B. et al. 2017. Observations of the GRB afterglow ATLAS17aeu and its possible association with GW 170104. Astrophysical Journal 850(2), pp. 149. (10.3847/1538-4357/aa95c1)

2016

Leloudas, G. et al. 2016. The superluminous transient ASASSN-15lh as a tidal disruption event from a Kerr black hole. Nature Astronomy 1(1), article number: 2. (10.1038/s41550-016-0002)
Lawrence, A. et al. 2016. Slow-blue nuclear hypervariables in PanSTARRS-1. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 463(1), pp. 296-331. (10.1093/mnras/stw1963)
Smartt, S. J. et al. 2016. Pan-STARRS and PESSTO search for an optical counterpart to the LIGO gravitational-wave source GW150914. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 462(4), pp. 4094-4116. (10.1093/mnras/stw1893)
Inserra, C., Bulla, M., Sim, S. A. and Smartt, S. J. 2016. Spectropolarimetry of superluminous supernovae: insight into their geometry. Astrophysical Journal 831(1), article number: 79. (10.3847/0004-637X/831/1/79)
Yuan, F. et al. 2016. 450 d of Type II SN 2013ej in optical and near-infrared. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 461(2), pp. 2003-2018. (10.1093/mnras/stw1419)
Nicholl, M. et al. 2016. Superluminous supernova SN 2015bn in the nebular phase: evidence for the engine-powered explosion of a stripped massive star. Astrophysical Journal Letters 828(2), article number: L18. (10.3847/2041-8205/828/2/L18)
Smartt, S. J. et al. 2016. A search for an optical counterpart to the gravitational-wave event GW151226. Astrophysical Journal Letters 827(2), pp. L40. (10.3847/2041-8205/827/2/L40)
Abbott, B. P. et al. 2016. Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914. Astrophysical Journal Letters 826(1), pp. -., article number: L13. (10.3847/2041-8205/826/1/L13)
Abbott, B. P. et al. 2016. Supplement: 'Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914' (2016, ApJL, 826, l13). Astrophysical Journal Supplement 225(1), pp. 1-15. (10.3847/0067-0049/225/1/8)
Nicholl, M. et al. 2016. SN 2015bn: A detailed multi-wavelength view of a nearby superluminous supernova. Astrophysical Journal 826(1), article number: 39. (10.3847/0004-637X/826/1/39)
Inserra, C. et al. 2016. On Type IIn/Ia-CSM supernovae as exemplified by SN 2012ca. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 459(3), pp. 2721-2740. (10.1093/mnras/stw825)
Magee, M. R. et al. 2016. The type Iax supernova, SN 2015H. Astronomy and Astrophysics 589, article number: A89. (10.1051/0004-6361/201528036)
Nicholl, M. et al. 2016. Erratum: On the diversity of superluminous supernovae: ejected mass as the dominant factor. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 457(3), pp. 2514-2515. (10.1093/mnras/stw160)
Polshaw, J. et al. 2016. LSQ13fn: A type II-Plateau supernova with a possibly low metallicity progenitor that breaks the standardised candle relation. Astronomy and Astrophysics 588, article number: A1. (10.1051/0004-6361/201527682)
Kangas, T. et al. 2016. Supernova 2013fc in a circumnuclear ring of a luminous infrared galaxy: the big brother of SN 1998S. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 456(1), pp. 323-346. (10.1093/mnras/stv2567)
Smith, M. et al. 2016. DES14X3taz: A type I superluminous supernova showing a luminous, rapidly cooling initial pre-peak bump. Astrophysical Journal Letters 818(1), article number: L8. (10.3847/2041-8205/818/1/L8)

2015

Childress, M. J. et al. 2015. Measuring nickel masses in Type Ia supernovae using cobalt emission in nebular phase spectra. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 454(4), pp. 3816-3842. (10.1093/mnras/stv2173)
Fraser, M. et al. 2015. SN 2009ip at late times - an interacting transient at +2 years. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 453(4), pp. 3887-3905. (10.1093/mnras/stv1919)
Gall, E. E. E. et al. 2015. A comparative study of Type II-P and II-L supernova rise times as exemplified by the case of LSQ13cuw. Astronomy and Astrophysics 582, article number: A3. (10.1051/0004-6361/201525868)
Chen, T. et al. 2015. The host galaxy and late-time evolution of the superluminous supernova PTF12dam. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 452(2), pp. 1567-1586. (10.1093/mnras/stv1360)
Smartt, S. J. et al. 2015. PESSTO: survey description and products from the first data release by the Public ESO Spectroscopic Survey of Transient Objects⋆,⋆⋆. Astronomy and Astrophysics 579, article number: A40. (10.1051/0004-6361/201425237)
Takáts, K. et al. 2015. SN 2009ib: a Type II-P supernova with an unusually long plateau. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 450(3), pp. 3137-3154. (10.1093/mnras/stv857)
Nicholl, M. et al. 2015. LSQ14bdq: A Type Ic super-luminous supernova with a double-peaked light curve. Astrophysical Journal Letters 807(1), article number: L18. (10.1088/2041-8205/807/1/L18)
de Jaeger, T. et al. 2015. SN 2011A: A low-luminosity interacting transient with a double plateau and strong sodium absorption. Astrophysical Journal 807(1), article number: 63. (10.1088/0004-637X/807/1/63)
Pastorello, A. et al. 2015. Massive stars exploding in a He-rich circumstellar medium - VI. Observations of two distant Type Ibn supernova candidates discovered by La Silla-QUEST. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 449(2), pp. 1954-1966. (10.1093/mnras/stv335)
Pastorello, A. et al. 2015. Massive stars exploding in a He-rich circumstellar medium - V. Observations of the slow-evolving SN Ibn OGLE-2012-SN-006. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 449(2), pp. 1941-1953. (10.1093/mnras/stu2621)
Pastorello, A. et al. 2015. Massive stars exploding in a He-rich circumstellar medium - IV. Transitional Type Ibn supernovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 449(2), pp. 1921-1940. (10.1093/mnras/stu2745)
Jerkstrand, A. et al. 2015. Supersolar Ni/Fe production in the Type IIP SN 2012ec. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 448(3), pp. 2482-2494. (10.1093/mnras/stv087)
Barbarino, C. et al. 2015. SN 2012ec: mass of the progenitor from PESSTO follow-up of the photospheric phase. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 448(3), pp. 2312-2331. (10.1093/mnras/stv106)
Inserra, C. et al. 2015. OGLE-2013-SN-079: A lonely supernova consistent with a helium shell detonation. Astrophysical Journal Letters 799(1), article number: L2. (10.1088/2041-8205/799/1/L2)

2014

Inserra, C. and Smartt, S. J. 2014. Superluminous supernovae as standardizable candles and high-redshift distance probes. Astrophysical Journal 796(2), article number: 87. (10.1088/0004-637X/796/2/87)
Scalzo, R. A. et al. 2014. Early ultraviolet emission in the Type Ia supernova LSQ12gdj: No evidence for ongoing shock interaction. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 445(1), pp. 30-48. (10.1093/mnras/stu1723)
Nicholl, M. et al. 2014. Superluminous supernovae from PESSTO. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 444(3), pp. 2096-2113. (10.1093/mnras/stu1579)
Benetti, S. et al. 2014. The supernova CSS121015:004244+132827: a clue for understanding superluminous supernovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 441(1), pp. 289. (10.1093/mnras/stu538)
Dall'Ora, M. et al. 2014. The type IIP supernova 2012aw in M95: hydrodynamical modeling of the photospheric phase from accurate spectrophotometric monitoring. Astrophysical Journal 787(2), article number: 139. (10.1088/0004-637X/787/2/139)
Fraser, M. et al. 2014. On the progenitor of the Type IIP SN 2013ej in M74. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters 439(1), pp. L56-L60. (10.1093/mnrasl/slt179)
Valenti, S. et al. 2014. The first month of evolution of the slow-rising Type IIP SN 2013ej in M74. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society - Letters 438(1), pp. L101-L105. (10.1093/mnrasl/slt171)
Valenti, S. et al. 2014. PESSTO monitoring of SN 2012hn: further heterogeneity among faint Type I supernovae?. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 437(2), pp. 1519-1533. (10.1093/mnras/stt1983)
McCrum, M. et al. 2014. The superluminous supernova PS1-11ap: bridging the gap between low and high redshift. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 437(1), pp. 656-674. (10.1093/mnras/stt1923)

2013

Inserra, C. et al. 2013. SN2012ca: a stripped envelope core-collapse SN interacting with dense circumstellar medium. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society - Letters 437(1), pp. L51-L55. (10.1093/mnrasl/slt138)
Nicholl, M. et al. 2013. Slowly fading super-luminous supernovae that are not pair-instability explosions. Nature 502(7471), pp. 346-349. (10.1038/nature12569)
Maguire, K. et al. 2013. A statistical analysis of circumstellar material in Type Ia supernovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 436(1), pp. 222-240. (10.1093/mnras/stt1586)
Fraser, M. et al. 2013. SN 2009ip à la PESSTO: no evidence for core collapse yet?. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 433(2), pp. 1312–1337. (10.1093/mnras/stt813)
Inserra, C. et al. 2013. Moderately luminous Type II supernovae. Astronomy and Astrophysics 555, pp. -., article number: A142. (10.1051/0004-6361/201220496)
Inserra, C. et al. 2013. Super-luminous type Ic supernovae: catching a magnetar by the tail. Astrophysical Journal 770(2), pp. -., article number: 128. (10.1088/0004-637X/770/2/128)
Maund, J. R. et al. 2013. Supernova 2012ec: identification of the progenitor and early monitoring with PESSTO?. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters 431(1), pp. L102-L106. (10.1093/mnrasl/slt017)
Pastorello, A. et al. 2013. Interacting supernovae and supernova impostors: SN 2009ip, is this the end?. Astrophysical Journal 767(1) (10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/1)

2012

Fraser, M. et al. 2012. Red and dead: the progenitor of SN 2012aw in M95. Astrophysical Journal Letters 759(1), pp. L13. (10.1088/2041-8205/759/1/L13)
Inserra, C. et al. 2012. The bright Type IIP SN 2009bw, showing signs of interaction. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 422(2), pp. 1122-1139. (10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.20685.x)
Inserra, C., Baron, E. and Turatto, M. 2012. Quantitative photospheric spectral analysis of the Type IIP supernova 2007od. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 422(2), pp. 1178-1185. (10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.20691.x)

2011

Inserra, C. et al. 2011. The Type IIP SN 2007od in UGC 12846: from a bright maximum to dust formation in the nebular phase. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 417(1), pp. 261-279. (10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19128.x)
Valenti, S. et al. 2011. SN 2009jf: a slow-evolving stripped-envelope core-collapse supernova?. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 416(4), pp. 3138–3159. (10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19262.x)
Taubenberger, S. et al. 2011. High luminosity, slow ejecta and persistent carbon lines: SN 2009dc challenges thermonuclear explosion scenarios?. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 412(4), pp. 2735–2762. (10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.18107.x)
Benetti, S. et al. 2011. The type Ib SN 1999dn: one year of photometric and spectroscopic monitoring. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 411(4), pp. 2726-2738. (10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17873.x)

My research focuses on extreme supernovae and the follow-up of electromagnetic counterparts of gravitation waves. I am the Principal Investigator (PI) and Survey director of the most recent extension of the Public ESO Spectroscopic Survey for Transient Objects plus (ePESSTO+, ~540 nights awarded by ESO), as well as one of the eight leaders of the original survey (PESSTO) and its first extension (ePESSTO). I was also science PI of the 'Superluminous supernova' and 'Fast transients' groups in the ePESSTO collaboration. I am one of the LSST:UK PIs and the LSST:UK Point of Contact (POC) for transient astronomy. as well as part of the LSST:UK Executive board.

I am the FORS2 instrument scientist in the ENGRAVE consortium, a European collaboration targeting electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational waves. I am a member of LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC), LSST transient and variable stars (TVS) group, as well as of the Euclid Consortium leading the extreme supernova science (see here the Euclid Deep Field Strategy - https://bit.ly/2Gce3B3). I am also a member of the LIGO consortium.

I am currently the module organiser (MO) for the 4th year Physics Project (PX3350).
I have been the module organiser (MO) for the 3rd year (BSc, MPhys) and MSc course High-Energy Astrophysics (PX3245/PXT214) from 2019/2020 to 2023/2024.

Academic appointments

Reader

August 2023 - present ; School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University

Senior Lecturer

August 2021 - July 2023 ; School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University

Lecturer

November 2018 - July 2021 ; School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University

Research Fellow

February 2017 - October 2018 ; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton
April 2012 - January 2017 ; Astrophysics Research Centre, Queen’s University Belfast

Education and qualifications

February 2012 - PhD in Physics and Astronomy, University of Catania, Italy (in collaboration with the University of Oklahoma)

Honours and awards

The 2021 MERAC Prize as the Best Early Career researcher in Observational Astrophysics (in Europe) for the investigation of the extremes of stellar explosions, providing a pioneering contribution to their understanding and their role in astronomy and astrophysics.
The Royal Astronomical Society Winton Capital Award 2017 - Winner and highly commended as the UK postdoctoral fellow with the most promising development in Astronomy.
Marie Curie COFUND Fellowship, 2016, declined.
The Queen's University Vice-Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Prize 2016 - Shortlisted finalist. Highly commended for the work in astronomy and supernovae.
The Queen's University Vice-Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Prize 2015 - Shortlisted finalist. Highly commended for the work in astronomy and supernovae.

Professional memberships

Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) UK Principal Investigator, Point of Contact for transient astronomy, LSST:UK executive board member
Euclid consortium - leading the extreme supernovae science
European Astronomical Society (EAS) fellow

Committees and reviewing

STFC Astronomy Advisory Panel (AAP, 2024 - present)
STFC Artificial Intelligence Champion
LSST:UK liaison with the Alan Touring Space Science Interest group (2022 - 2024)
STFC Education, Training and Careers Committee (ETCC) panel member (2023 - present)
Athena SWAN Panelist (2017-2020) and then from 2022 onward
Science and Technology Facility Council (STFC) Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ERF) panel member (sifting and interview - 2019-2022)
UKRI - Future Leadership Fellowship reviewer
Royal Society University Research fellowship reviewer
Journal Reviewer: Science, Nature Astronomy, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS), The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ)
Reviewer for grant applications for the French Research National Council and the Estonian Research Council
Reviewer of astronomical proposals for the Hubble Space Telescope, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the 4m William Herschel Telescope, the 3.6m Canada- Hawaii France Tel., the 2m Liverpool Telescope and the OPTICON-Radionet

Current supervision

Callum Aubrey

Graduate Demonstrator

Past projects

“Fast” modeling procedures for Core Collapse Supernovae and similar transient objects (Cosentino - PhD awarded in 2024)
Rewinding a Supernova with Machine Learning (Parrag - PhD awarded in 2023)

Contact Details

InserraC@cardiff.ac.uk

Queen's Buildings - North Building, Room Room N/3.19, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA

Research themes

Specialisms

Cosmology and extragalactic astronomy
Extragalactic Transients
High Energy Astrophysics
Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity

Cardiff celebrates new Physics Inclusion Award with leading UK physicists

13 November 2024

Astronomers uncover previously unknown source of star dust in rare supernova explosion

12 February 2024

Cardiff University School of Physics and Astronomy leads on a successful bid for a GW4 Building Communities Development Award

18 January 2023