Shahin Jafarzadeh

Research Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast, UK

0000-0002-7711-5397

I am currently a research fellow at Queen's University Belfast, UK, working within the Astrophysics Research Centre. I maintain close ties with research institutions across Europe, including past guest researcher position at the Niels Bohr International Academy (Denmark), and ongoing affiliations with the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (Germany), and the Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics (Norway). Moreover, I am co-founder of the WaLSA team and actively contribute to several international committees. My work primarily delves into the dynamics of the Sun's lower atmosphere, with a particular emphasis on how magnetic fields and wave activity contribute to the solar atmosphere’s heating. Integral to my research is the application of advanced data analysis techniques to large observational datasets, blending astrophysics with data science to deepen our understanding of solar phenomena and their impacts on Earth. I have a wealth of experience in solar (and stellar) observations and have successfully supervised several MSc and PhD students. I am also deeply committed to passionately engaging in public outreach activities.

As I continue to explore the intersections of data science and astrophysics, I am especially focused on advancing and applying my methodological expertise in analysing waves and oscillatory phenomena. I am also keen to extend these approaches into new fields and industry applications — particularly those where sustainability and societal impact play a central role.

Curriculum Vitae

Academic Interests

  • Solar Physics, predominantly focused on studies of magnetic-field dynamics and (magnetohydrodynamic) wave activity in the lower solar atmosphere
  • High-resolution observations of the solar atmosphere from diverse ground-based and space/balloon-borne observing facilities
  • Data analysis and image processing, particularly linked to ‘big data’, as well as applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • Interdisciplinary research, bridging astrophysics, plasma physics, mathematics, computer science, and instrumentation design

Employment History

  • Research Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast, UK, 12/2024–present
  • Research Scientist, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany, 09/2021–01/2022 & 06/2022–09/2024
  • Research Scientist, Leibniz Institute for Solar Physics (KIS), Germany, 02/2022–05/2022
  • Researcher, Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics (RoCS), University of Oslo, Norway, 12/2016–08/2021
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, Norway, 2013–2016
  • PhD/Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany, 2010–2013
  • USO-SP Marie Curie Fellow, Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, Norway, 2009

Higher Education

  • Dr.rer.nat. (PhD), Astronomy with Solar Physics (summa cum laude)
    Institute for Astrophysics, Georg August University of Göttingen, Germany, 2013
  • MSc, Astronomy and Astrophysics
    Lund Observatory, Lund University, Sweden, 2009
  • BSc, Physics with Astronomy
    Biruni Observatory, Shiraz University, Iran, 2001

Peer-Reviewed Publications