Amena Faruqi
About Me
I am a 3rd year PhD student in the Astronomy and Astrophysics group at the University of Warwick under the supervision of Dr Farzana Meru. My research interests lie primarily in the use of computational methods and simulations for studying the dynamics and evolution of discs and planetary systems over astronomical timescales, including planet formation and planet-disc interactions. I am currently using FARGO3D to study dust growth due to gap and ring features in protoplanetary discs, which may trigger sequential planet formation.
I graduated with a BSc in Physics from Imperial College London in 2019 and spent two years working as a software developer (Python, JS, SQL) before returning to research to do my MSc by Research at the University of Warwick under the supervision of Dr Grant Kennedy, Dr Rebecca Nealon, and Dr Sahl Rowther.
MSc by Research
My MSc by Research project focussed on modelling the HD98800 double-binary system, specifically simulating a predicted transit in which one binary system will be occulted by the disc encircling the other. This is anticipated to begin some time within the next few years and presents a unique opportunity to constrain protoplanetary disc properties. Phantom SPH code was used to create synthetic observations of HD98800 for a range of potential disc parameters. The goal was to consider how properties of the circumbinary disc can lead to observable differences in a light curve of the transit, which may be used to make inferences about the disc once the real transit is observed.
Artist's representation of HD98800. Credit: Mark Garlick, University of Warwick
Talks & Poster Presentations
| Conference | Date(s) | Title |
|
Midlands Discs Meeting |
4 April 2022 |
Simulating the Transit of a Binary System by a Circumbinary Disc in the HD98800 System (Talk) |
|
Planet and binary formation in gravitationally unstable protoplanetary discs in the high-resolution era |
12-16 Sept 2022 |
Synthetic Observations of a Circumbinary Disc Transit (PosterLink opens in a new window) |
|
Formation, evolution and dispersal of protoplanetary discs (RAS Specialist Meeting) |
14 October 2022 |
Simulating a Transiting Circumbinary Disc in the HD98800 System (Talk) |
|
Phantom and MCFOST Users Workshop |
13-17 February 2023 |
Phantom simulations of a transiting circumbinary disk (TalkLink opens in a new window+SlidesLink opens in a new window) |
|
The inner disk of young stars : accretion, ejection, and planet formation |
7-13 May 2023 |
Investigating Dust Growth in Protoplanetary Discs (PosterLink opens in a new window) |
|
Midlands Discs Meeting II |
6 June 2023 |
Investigating Dust Growth in Protoplanetary Discs (Talk+SlidesLink opens in a new window) |
|
Warwick University 2nd Year Poster Presentation |
15 May 2024 |
Sequential Planet Formation: How Planet-Induced Disc Morphology Encourages Planetesimal Growth (Poster) |
|
McMaster University Astronomy Seminar |
22 August 2024 |
The Impact of Planetary Migration on Collisional Growth of Dust (Talk + Slides) |
|
UKI Discs Conference 2024 |
9-11 September 2024 |
How Planetary Migration Influences Planetesimal Growth (Talk + Slides) |
Roles
- Senior Graduate Teaching Assistant - Physics (October 2022 - present)
- Undergraduate Labs Demonstrator - Physics (October 2023 - March 2024)
- Digital Communications for Equitea Committee (January 2022 - present)
- Organiser for Exoplanet research group meetings - Tuesdays at 10am (Oct 2022 - Oct 2023)
- Organiser for Discs research group meetings - Wednesdays 11am (Oct 2022 - present)
- Secretary for Postgraduate Committee (November 2023 - present)
- Athena Swan Gender Equality Rep (November 2023 - present)
