Hello!

I am working towards a PhD at the Institute of Cosmology & Gravitation (ICG) at the University of Portsmouth, learning how to generate synthetic observations for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). I also have an interest in using microlensing by compact objects to explore accretion disks.

My research

With the launch of the JWST an avalanche of data on the high redshift Universe is currently being taken. For example, F. D’Eugenio et al. 2023 have observed the most distant nebular-line detection to date at z = 12.5 with JWST/NIRSpec spectroscopy. It is important therefore that we have the best theoretical models to understand this data, and this is the focus of my research. One way of comparing models with data is to forward model the emission from theoretical galaxies and compare in this observer space.

Publications

Below are my two first-author papers:

Using white dwarf lensing to resolve accretion flows

Authors: Newman, Sophie L.; Middleton, Matthew J.; McMaster, Adam

Year: 2025

Link: arXiv:2509.10674

Cloudy-Maraston: Integrating nebular continuum and line emission with the Maraston stellar population synthesis models

Authors: Newman, Sophie L.; Lovell, Christopher C.; Maraston, Claudia; Giavalisco, Mauro; Roper, William J.; Saxena, Aayush; Vijayan, Aswin P.; Wilkins, Stephen M.

Year:2025

Link: arXiv:2501.03133

Meetings

I enjoy attending meetings and conferences to learn about wider fields of research, as well to present my research in an engaging and accessible manner.

Outreach

I’m passionate about making science accessible to everyone by ensuring that all have the resources and opportunities they need to get involved. I love contributing wherever I can to help build a more inclusive scientific community. Here are some of my favourite outreach initiatives I’ve taken part in:

  • Served on the Local Organising Committee for the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) UK, University of Southampton, 2021
  • Hosted Physics Chat on the YouTube channel Field of View, which aims to make research accessible to everyone
  • Engaged with the public at JWST’s First Years of Discovery during the 2024 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
  • Designed a “Build a Mini JWST” craft activity, now featured at both Portsmouth Stargazing and Portsmouth Comic Con
  • Delivered a public talk at Astronomy on Tap NYC

Code

Here you can find descriptions of the codes that I have written and contributed to.