After obtaining my B.Sc. from Rhodes University, I pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Cape Town and completed my PhD in 2014. My postdoctoral position at University College London marked a pivotal moment in my career, introducing me to machine learning and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). In 2016, I returned to South Africa as a researcher at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, and in 2020, I assumed my current position as Senior Lecturer at the University of the Western Cape. From 2020 to 2025, I was seconded part time as a Staff Scientist at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). SARAO built the world-class radio telescope MeerKAT, a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) which has been fundamental to my research and instrumental in several of my discoveries.

As of May 2025, I have published 33 papers in high-impact journals, 10 white papers, and 5 conference proceedings. My work has garnered significant attention, with a Google Scholar h-index of 23 and more than 1700 citations. 

My contributions to LSST science have been highly impactful, as described on the page LSST - making a movie of the universe. My work on optimising LSST’s observing strategy has shaped key decisions that affect a wide range of science cases. This recognition earned me builder status within the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC), granting me co-authorship on all upcoming key papers. I also served on the DESC collaboration council for two years. As one of the first three South African LSST Principal Investigators, I secured LSST data access for myself, my students, and postdocs, along with a $100,000 grant to support this work. I am also a member of the South African LSST committee, contributing to national efforts to maximise South Africa’s engagement in this groundbreaking survey.

In the field of anomaly detection (described further on my Making new discoveries with AI page), I am recognised for developing Astronomaly, the first general framework for integrating human expertise into machine learning workflows to identify unusual sources in large astronomical datasets. This tool has been applied across various datasets, including MeerKAT radio data, leading to the discovery of SAURON, a novel radio source and one of my most exciting scientific achievements. This work illustrates the transformative potential of machine learning in modern astronomy.

I have mentored seven Honours students and six MSc students, several of whom graduated with distinction. Three have transitioned to industry, one received a President’s Scholarship to pursue a PhD at Imperial College London, and two remained under my supervision for their PhDs. Currently, I supervise one MSc student, three PhD students (two of whom are nearing completion), and two postdoctoral researchers.

My work has garnered international recognition. I have delivered more than 27 invited talks and 4 keynote/ review talks at international conferences over the past eight years. A career highlight was in 2021 when I presented invited talks at the American, European, and African Astronomical Society meetings in the same year. Additionally, I have given several invited talks and a review talk at two IAU General Assemblies. I was also invited to co-author five Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 white papers and one Snowmass 2021 paper, despite being based outside the United States.

I contribute to the scientific community as a reviewer for leading journals, including Nature Astronomy, MNRAS, RASTI, Astronomy and Computing, and ApJ. I have also examined MSc and PhD theses, reviewed grant applications for international agencies, and served on organising committees for conferences such as Astroinformatics, Breakthrough Discuss, and the SARAO postgraduate bursary conference. 

In addition to being PI for the aforementioned LSST grant (valued at $100 000), and I am a co-Investigator on a Swiss bilateral grant ($50 000, PI Dr. Kenda Knowles) and a NASA grant ($250 000, PI Prof. Loren Anderson). My scientific contributions have been recognised with nominations as a finalist for the National Science and Technology Forum Award and the South African Women in Science Award. I was also inducted into the South African Young Academy of Scientists in 2021.

As a teacher, I feel a strong responsibility towards my students, training them to be prepared for both academia and a career in industry. The COVID-19 pandemic taught me to be highly adaptable and adjust my course according to the needs of the students, trying to meet them where they are and developing together. My courses tend to be very practical, focusing on authentic and experiential learning to develop critical skills, particularly in computing and data analysis. For more information, please go to my learning and teaching page.

Recognising the persistent gender inequality in physics and the barriers faced by women entering and advancing in the field, in 2017 I founded the Supernova Foundation: an international mentoring programme for women and gender minorities in physics. Since then, this initiative has grown to impact over 600 members from more than 50 countries, having particular impact on students in departments without women role models. Outreach is also a passion of mine, and I regularly engage in radio interviews, write popular science articles, and collaborate with science communicators. I believe that sharing science broadly is vital, as it ensures that the work we do has real value beyond academic circles.