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Save British astronomy!
Sudden, unexpected budget cuts by STFC are endangering British astronomy. Click here to find out more.Who am I?
My name is Klaas Wiersema. I work as a postdoctoral researcher in astronomy at the University of Leicester. Previously I worked at the Astronomical Institute "Anton Pannekoek" of the University of Amsterdam. Welcome to my website!
Ptolemy with compass, Paris, BnF, Manuscrits, Gr. 1401, fo 2
Research interests
I work at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Leicester, in the X-ray and Observational Astronomy group. My main interests are the environments of the most extreme explosions in the Universe: gamma-ray bursts. I am interested in using GRBs as a tool to understand galaxies, and galaxies as a tool to understand GRBs (particularly to narrow down the families of possible progenitor models). To gain better knowledge I am interested in acquiring large samples of basic data as well as detailed studies of individal (bright) sources. I do GRB afterglow- and host galaxy optical spectroscopy and photometry, and afterglow polarimetry.Besides GRB afterglows and hosts, I am also quite interested in X-ray binaries and other jet sources - particularly the optical perspective.
ADS search for my publications
Teaching
In Amsterdam I taught the werkcollege at "Astronomy I" (semester 1, 1st year undergrads) and the lab-course "Sterrenkunde Practicum III"
(november-february, 3d year undergrads). I have also taught "Vibrations and waves" and "Experimental Physics I and II".
I also help high-school children with their final year physics projects, by doing experiments such as the Roemer velocity of light experiment.
Personal
I am a 30 year old Dutch guy. I live in Leicester and originally come from Alkmaar (the cheese-city!).
I studied astronomy and theoretical physics at the
University of Amsterdam. From the 1st of October 2003 to the 1st of October 2007 I worked as an AiO (PhD student) at the Astronomical Institute "Anton Pannekoek"
at the University of Amsterdam. My supervisor there was prof. dr. R.A.M.J. Wijers.
I obtained my PhD on 13 September 2007, on observational research on
gamma-ray burst afterglows and GRB host galaxies.
I am married to dr. Rhaana Starling, who works as a postdoc
(Swift XRT scientist) at the University of Leicester.
You can visit our wedding website here.
Recently we became proud parents of a beautiful baby boy.
My coat of arms can be found here.
I am a member of AWSV Metius in Alkmaar (the Netherlands), an amateur astronomy society.
I enjoy observing a lot, with the eye and with CCDs. I'm involved with the construction and verification of the Metius ABT remote controlled telescope.
I am interested in using amateur equipment to do interesting science (gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, microlensing).
This has been rather succesful the last years.
Do you have a decent telescope, CCD, filterwheel and a lot of spare
time? Contact me!