Kirsten Kraiberg Knudsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirsten Kraiberg Knudsen
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Kirsten Kraiberg Knudsen in front of the 20 m radio telescope at Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden
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| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen University of Leiden |
| Known for | Extragalactic astrophysics |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Chalmers University of Technology |
Kirsten Kraiberg Knudsen is a smart scientist who studies space! She is a professor of astrophysics at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Her main job is to research how galaxies are formed and how they change over time.
She is also a member of the Swedish Young Academy and the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which is a big group of astronomers from all over the world.
Her Early Life and Studies
Kirsten Kraiberg Knudsen went to two different universities to learn about space. She studied at the University of Copenhagen and then at the University of Leiden. At the University of Leiden, she earned her PhD, which is a very high degree that shows she is an expert in her field.
Exploring the Universe
Kirsten's research focuses on galaxies that are actively forming new stars. She looks at these galaxies from very far away, using powerful telescopes. These telescopes help her see how galaxies looked billions of years ago, because their light takes so long to reach us!
She uses some of the biggest and most modern telescopes in the world. These include the ALMA, the VLT, IRAM PdBI, and the VLA. With these amazing tools, she studies special types of galaxies called submillimeter galaxies and quasar host galaxies. She also looks at how light from these distant galaxies can be bent by gravity, which helps her see them even better.
Awards and Recognitions
Kirsten Kraiberg Knudsen has received some important awards for her work:
- In 2018, she won the Birger Karlsson Award.
- In 2012, she was named a Wallenberg Academy Fellow, which is a special honor for young researchers in Sweden.
