Dr. Olivia Jones

I am a STFC Webb Fellow at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.

I obtained my PhD on dusty evolved stars at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. I then joined the Space Telescope Science Institute as a post-doctoral research fellow, working with Prof. Margaret Meixner. In 2017, I was awarded a Rutherford International / Marie Sklodowska-Curie co-fund Fellowship and moved to the UK ATC in Scotland to continue my research. Here I also became a member of the James Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) instrument team.

My research interests include dust production and processing by evolved stars and supernovae, the evolution of dust in galaxies, and the effect of metallicity on resolved stellar populations and star-formation in Local Group galaxies. The vast majority of my research involves analysing infrared and sub-mm spectroscopy, multi-wavelength photometry, and modelling dust production.

I have had several appearances in the media, often talking about the wonders of the science achieved by JWST. You can listen to me talk about our exciting JWST observations of SN1987A on Science In Action for the BBC World Service. Or about the science JWST will do in The Times or for BBC Earth Science. Several of my JWST observations have also been featured in the ESA/Webb Picture of the Month.

Email: olivia.jones-AT-stfc.ac.uk

A full list of my publications can be found on the Astrophysics Data System (ADS). This list is resaonably complete and updated frequently.

NASA/ADS library of my publications

arXiv author page: Jones, O

ORCID: 0000-0003-4870-5547

Alumina-Silicate Model Grid

If you wish to use the grid of Alumina and silicate models for oxygen-rich evolved stars published in Jones et al. 2014 please drop me an email. The grid, generated using the Modust radiative transfer code, samples a range of stellar and dust shell parameters and is optimized for oxygen-rich dusty evolved stars. This grid is best used to investigate the dust composition as a function of the dust-production rate.

Current PhD Students

• Jess Howell
• Conor Nally

Previous Undergraduate Students

• C. Robertson
• M. Sharp

Undergraduate Student Opportunities: I am always looking for motivated students to participate in my research programme. Interested in joining us? Please contact me.

Cosmic Mining with the Institute for Research in Schools

Together with the Institute for Research in Schools I am enabling school students to become astronomy researchers by taking part in cutting-edge, original research projects relating to inferred spectroscopy through the cosmic mining project. School students are analysing spectral data from Spitzer processed via CASSIS to find embedded protostars in our Galaxy and others nearby, and identify future targets for JWST. Classifications are determined via a decision tree algorithm developed by the SAGE-Spec Spitzer Legacy team, and successfully applied to all Spitzer/IRS point sources in the Magellanic Clouds. Ultimately the students will produce the first fully characterised inventory of all 11,000+ point-sources observed by Spitzer/IRS. These (sub-)sampleswill be used to investigate the chemical make-up of galaxies, provide of insights into the physics occurring in these sources, and identify potential targets for JWST. For more details on how to take part see the cosmic mining FAQ or watch the IRIS YouTube channel.