Prestigious research award for Southampton scientist

The Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science, has awarded a prestigious University Research Fellowship (URFs) to Dr Diego Altamirano from from Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southampton.

The University Research Fellowship scheme aims to provide outstanding scientists, who have the potential to become leaders in their chosen fields, with the opportunity to build an independent research career. The scheme is extremely competitive and URFs are expected to be strong candidates for permanent posts in universities at the end of their fellowships.

Dr Altamirano, who is one of 41 new URF appointments across the UK, will be working on a research project using today’s best X-ray telescopes, together with the world’s largest radio antennas and most sensitive optical telescopes, to study in detail and provide new insights into the two most fascinating black hole systems in our Galaxy ‘IGR J17091-3624’ and ‘GRS 1915+105’ (named after the astronomical coordinates of their sky position).

Dr Altamirano says: “I’m delighted and honoured to receive this prestigious fellowship from the Royal Society. The award will help my research to develop new knowledge about what happens at the edge of black hole event horizons.”