Professor Tamara Davis
Professor

Tamara Davis

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53134
Mobile: 
0432 526 989

Background

Professor Tamara Davis is an astrophysicist who studies the elusive “dark energy” that’s accelerating the universe. She completed her PhD in 2004 at the University of New South Wales on theoretical cosmology and black holes, then worked on supernova cosmology in two postdoctoral fellowships, the first at the Australian National University (collaborating with Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory) and the second at the University of Copenhagen. In 2008 she moved to Queensland to join the WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey team working on mapping the galaxies in the Universe. She led the Dark Theme within the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics, is now leading the OzDES survey -- working with the international Dark Energy Survey, and working with working with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument project. As of 2024 she is Deputy Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery.

Her accolades include the Astronomical Society of Australia's Louise Webster Medal for early career research impact, the L'Oréal Women in Science Fellowship for Australia, the Australian Institute of Physics Women in Physics Lectureship, the Australian Academy of Science’s Nancy Millis Medal for outstanding female leadership in science, an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship, the Astronomical Society of Australia's Ellery Lectureship, and a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Availability

Professor Tamara Davis is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Physical Sciences

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales

Research interests

  • Cosmology, Dark Energy, and Dark Matter

    Using supernovae, gravitational waves, and the large-scale structure of the Universe to learn about fundamental physics. On a quest to map all the galaxies in the observable Universe.

Search Professor Tamara Davis’s works on UQ eSpace

265 works between 2001 and 2025
All (265) Journal Article (257) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (5) Other Outputs (1)

241 - 260 of 265 works

2009

Journal Article

If galaxies are all moving apart at ever increasing speed, how can they collide?

Davis, Tamara (2009). If galaxies are all moving apart at ever increasing speed, how can they collide?. Scientific American, 300 (4), 84-84.

If galaxies are all moving apart at ever increasing speed, how can they collide?

2009

Journal Article

Spectroscopy of high-redshift supernovae from the essence project: The first four years

Foley, R. J., Matheson, T., Blondin, S., Chornock, R., Silverman, J. M., Challis, P., Clocchiatti, A., Filippenko, A. V., Kirshner, R. P., Leibundgut, B., Sollerman, J., Spyromilio, J., Tonry, J. L., Davis, T. M., Garnavich, P. M., Jha, S. W., Krisciunas, K., Li, W., Pignata, G., Rest, A., Riess, A. G., Schmidt, B. P., Smith, R. C., Stubbs, C. W., Tucker, B. E. and Wood-Vasey, W. M. (2009). Spectroscopy of high-redshift supernovae from the essence project: The first four years. The Astronomical Journal, 137 (4), 3731-3742. doi: 10.1088/0004-6256/137/4/3731

Spectroscopy of high-redshift supernovae from the essence project: The first four years

2009

Journal Article

The WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey: 100,000 starburst galaxy redshifts

Drinkwater, Michael, Blake, C. A., Brough, S., Couch, W. J., Glazebrook, K., Poole, G. B., Pracy, M., Colless, M., Sharp, R., Croom S., Davis, T. M., Jurek, R. J., Pimbblet, K. A., Foster, K., Martin, D. C., Small, T., Wyder, T., Madore, B. and Woods, D. (2009). The WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey: 100,000 starburst galaxy redshifts. Anglo-Australian Observatory Newsletter, 115 (The first on-sky demonstration of photonic OH suppression), 3-7.

The WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey: 100,000 starburst galaxy redshifts

2008

Journal Article

The WiggleZ dark energy survey

Blake, Chris, Brough, Sarah, Couch, Warrick, Glazebrook, Karl, Poole, Greg, Davis, Tamara, Drinkwater, Michael, Jurek, Russell, Pimbblet, Kevin, Colless, Matthew, Sharp, Rob, Croom, Scott, Pracy, Michael, Woods, David, Madore, Barry, Martin, Chris and Wyder, Ted (2008). The WiggleZ dark energy survey. Astronomy & Geophysics, 49 (5), 5.19-5.24. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-4004.2008.49519.x

The WiggleZ dark energy survey

2008

Journal Article

Constraining cosmic evolution of type Ia supernovae

Foley, Ryan J., Filippenko, Alexei V., Aguilera, C., Becker, A. C., Blondin, S., Challis, P., Clocchiatti, A., Covarrubias, R., Davis, T. M., Garnavich, P. M., Jha, S. W., Kirshner, R. P., Krisciunas, K., Leibundgut, B., Li, W., Matheson, T., Miceli, A., Miknaitis, G., Pignata, G., Rest, A., Riess, A. G., Schmidt, B. P., Smith, R. C., Sollerman, J., Spyromilio, J., Stubbs, C. W., Suntzeff, N. B., Tonry, J. L., Wood-Vasey, W. M. and Zenteno, A. (2008). Constraining cosmic evolution of type Ia supernovae. The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics, 684 (1), 68-87. doi: 10.1086/589612

Constraining cosmic evolution of type Ia supernovae

2008

Journal Article

Time Dilation in Type Ia Supernova Spectra at High Redshift

Blondin, S., Davis, T. M., Krisciunas, K., Schmidt, B. P., Sollerman, J., Wood-Vasey, W. M., Becker, A. C., Challis, P., Clocchiatti, A., Damke, G., Filippenko, A. V., Foley, R. J., Garnavich, P. M., Jha, S. W., Kirshner, R. P., Leibundgut, B., Li, W., Matheson, T., Miknaitis, G., Narayan, G., Pignata, G., Rest, A., Riess, A. G., Silverman, J. M., Smith, R. C., Spyromilio, J., Stritzinger, M., Stubbs, C. W., Suntzeff, N. B. ... Zenteno, A. (2008). Time Dilation in Type Ia Supernova Spectra at High Redshift. Astrophysical Journal, 682 (2), 724-736. doi: 10.1086/589568

Time Dilation in Type Ia Supernova Spectra at High Redshift

2008

Journal Article

Exploring the outer solar system with the ESSENCE Supernova Survey

Becker, A. C., Arraki, K., Kaib, N. A., Wood-Vasey, W. M., Aguilera, C., Blackman, J. W., Blondin, S., Challis, P., Clocchiatti, A., Covarrubias, R., Damke, G., Davis, T. M., Filippenko, A. V., Foley, R. J., Garg, A., Garnavich, P. M., Hicken, M., Jha, S., Kirshner, R. P., Krisciunas, K., Leibundgut, B., Li, W., Matheson, T., Miceli, A., Miknaitis, G., Narayan, G., Pignata, G., Prieto, J. L., Rest, A. ... Zenteno, A. (2008). Exploring the outer solar system with the ESSENCE Supernova Survey. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 682 (1), L53-L56. doi: 10.1086/590429

Exploring the outer solar system with the ESSENCE Supernova Survey

2007

Conference Publication

Type Ia supernova diversity: Standardizing the candles

Davis, Tamara M., James, J. Berian, Schmidt, Brian P. and Kim, Alex G. (2007). Type Ia supernova diversity: Standardizing the candles. THE MULTICOLORED LANDSCAPE OF COMPACT OBJECTS AND THEIR EXPLOSIVE ORIGINS, , , June 11, 2006-June 24, 2006. American Institute of Physics. doi: 10.1063/1.2774877

Type Ia supernova diversity: Standardizing the candles

2007

Journal Article

Observational Constraints on the Nature of Dark Energy: First Cosmological Results from the ESSENCE Supernova Survey

Wood-Vasey, W. M., Miknaitis, G., Stubbs, C. W., Jha, S., Riess, A. G., Garnavich, P. M., Kirshner, R. P., Aguilera, C., Becker, A. C., Blackman, J. W., Blondin, S., Challis, P., Clocchiatti, A., Conley, A., Covarrubias, R., Davis, T. M., Filippenko, A. V., Foley, R. J., Garg, A., Hicken, M., Krisciunas, K., Leibundgut, B., Li, W., Matheson, T., Miceli, A., Narayan, G., Pignata, G., Prieto, J. L., Rest, A. ... Zenteno, A. (2007). Observational Constraints on the Nature of Dark Energy: First Cosmological Results from the ESSENCE Supernova Survey. Astrophysical Journal, 666 (2), 694-715. doi: 10.1086/518642

Observational Constraints on the Nature of Dark Energy: First Cosmological Results from the ESSENCE Supernova Survey

2007

Journal Article

The ESSENCE Supernova Survey: Survey optimization, observations, and supernova photometry

Miknaitis, G., Pignata, G., Rest, A., Wood‐Vasey, W. M., Blondin, S., Challis, P., Smith, R. C., Stubbs, C. W., Suntzeff, N. B., Foley, R. J., Matheson, T., Tonry, J. L., Aguilera, C., Blackman, J. W., Becker, A. C., Clocchiatti, A., Covarrubias, R., Davis, T. M., Filippenko, A. V., Garg, A., Garnavich, P. M., Hicken, M., Jha, S., Krisciunas, K., Kirshner, R. P., Leibundgut, B., Li, W., Miceli, A., Narayan, G. ... Zenteno, A. (2007). The ESSENCE Supernova Survey: Survey optimization, observations, and supernova photometry. Astrophysical journal, 666 (2), 674-693. doi: 10.1086/519986

The ESSENCE Supernova Survey: Survey optimization, observations, and supernova photometry

2007

Journal Article

A search for propylene oxide and glycine in Sagittarius B2 (LMH) and Orion

Cunningham, M. R., Jones, P. A., Godfrey, P. D., Cragg, D. M., Bains, I., Burton, M. G., Calisse, P., Crighton, N. H. M., Curran, S. J., Davis, T. M., Dempsey, J. T., Fulton, B., Hidas, M. G., Hill, T., Kedziora-Chudczer, L., Minier, V., Pracy, M. B., Purcell, C., Shobbrook, J. and Travouillon, T. (2007). A search for propylene oxide and glycine in Sagittarius B2 (LMH) and Orion. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 376 (3), 1201-1210. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.11504.x

A search for propylene oxide and glycine in Sagittarius B2 (LMH) and Orion

2006

Conference Publication

Supernova cosmology and the essence project

Sollerman, Jesper, Aguilera, Claudio, Becker, Andy, Blondin, Stephane, Challis, Pete, Clocchiatti, Alejandro, Filippenko, Alex, Foley, Ryan, Garnavich, Peter M., Hicken, Malcolm, Jha, Saurabh, Kirshner, Robert, Krisciunas, Kevin, Leibundgut, Bruno, Li, Weidong, Matheson, Thomas, Miknaitis, Gajus, Rest, Armin, Riess, Adam G., Salvo, Maria Elena, Schmidt, Brian P., Smith, Chris, Spyromilio, Jason, Stubbs, Chris, Suntzeff, Nicholas B., Tonry, John L., Wood-Vasey, Michael, Barris, Brian, Davis, Tamara and Mörtsell, Edvard (2006). Supernova cosmology and the essence project.

Supernova cosmology and the essence project

2006

Journal Article

Spectral diversity of Type Ia supernovae

James, J. Berian, Davis, Tamara M., Schmidt, Brian P. and Kim, Alex G. (2006). Spectral diversity of Type Ia supernovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 370 (2), 933-940. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10508.x

Spectral diversity of Type Ia supernovae

2006

Journal Article

A CH3CN and HCO+ survey towards southern methanols masers associated with star formation

Purcell, C. R., Balasubramanyam, R., Burton, M. G., Walsh, A. J., Minier, V., Hunt-Cunningham, M. R., Kedziora-Chudczer, L. L., Longmore, S. N., Bains, I., Hill, T., Barnes, P. J., Busfield, A. L., Calisse, P., Crighton, N. H. M., Curran, S. J., Davis, T. M., Dempsey, J. T., Derragopian, G., Fulton, B., Hidas, M. G., Hoare, M. G., Lee, J.-K., Ladd, E. F., Lumsden, S. L., Moore, T. J. T., Murphy, M. T., Oudmaijer, R. D., Pracy, M. B., Rathborne, J. ... Travouillion, T. (2006). A CH3CN and HCO+ survey towards southern methanols masers associated with star formation. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 367 (2), 553-576. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.09921.x

A CH3CN and HCO+ survey towards southern methanols masers associated with star formation

2006

Journal Article

Using Line Profiles to Test the Fraternity of Type Ia Supernovae at High and Low Redshifts

Blondin, Stéphane, Dessart, Luc, Leibundgut, Bruno, Branch, David, Höflich, Peter, Tonry, John L., Matheson, Thomas, Foley, Ryan J., Chornock, Ryan, Filippenko, Alexei V., Sollerman, Jesper, Spyromilio, Jason, Kirshner, Robert P., Wood-Vasey, W. Michael, Clocchiatti, Alejandro, Aguilera, Claudio, Barris, Brian, Becker, Andrew C., Challis, Peter, Covarrubias, Ricardo, Davis, Tamara M., Garnavich, Peter, Hicken, Malcolm, Jha, Saurabh, Krisciunas, Kevin, Li, Weidong, Miceli, Anthony, Miknaitis, Gajus, Pignata, Giuliano ... Suntzeff, Nicholas B. (2006). Using Line Profiles to Test the Fraternity of Type Ia Supernovae at High and Low Redshifts. The Astronomical Journal, 131 (3), 1648-1666. doi: 10.1086/498724

Using Line Profiles to Test the Fraternity of Type Ia Supernovae at High and Low Redshifts

2006

Journal Article

Ideal bandpasses for type Ia supernova cosmology

Davis, Tamara M., Schmidt, Brian P. and Kim, Alex G. (2006). Ideal bandpasses for type Ia supernova cosmology. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 118 (840), 205-217. doi: 10.1086/499116

Ideal bandpasses for type Ia supernova cosmology

2006

Journal Article

Supernova 2006aj and the associated X-Ray Flash 060218

Sollerman, J., Jaunsen, A., Fynbo, J., Hjorth, J., Jakobsson, P., Stritzinger, M., Feron, C., Laursen, P., Ovaldsen, J.-E., Selj, J., Thone, C., Xu, D., Davis, T., Gorosabel, J., Watson, D., Duro, R., Ilyin, I., Jensen, B., Lysfjord, N., Marquart, T., Nielsen, T., Naranen, J., Schwarz, H., Walch, S., Wold, M. and Ostlin, G. (2006). Supernova 2006aj and the associated X-Ray Flash 060218. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 454 (2), 503-509. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361:20065226

Supernova 2006aj and the associated X-Ray Flash 060218

2004

Journal Article

Expanding Confusion: Common Misconceptions of Cosmological Horizons and the Superluminal Expansion of the Universe

Davis, Tamara M. and Lineweaver, Charles H. (2004). Expanding Confusion: Common Misconceptions of Cosmological Horizons and the Superluminal Expansion of the Universe. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 21 (1), 97-109. doi: 10.1071/AS03040

Expanding Confusion: Common Misconceptions of Cosmological Horizons and the Superluminal Expansion of the Universe

2004

Conference Publication

What can rapid terrestrial biogenesis tell us about life in the universe?

Lineweaver, CH and Davis, TM (2004). What can rapid terrestrial biogenesis tell us about life in the universe?. 213th Symposium of the International-Astronomical-Union on Bioastronomy 2002, Hamilton Isl Australia, Jul 08-12, 2002. SAN FRANCISCO: ASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC.

What can rapid terrestrial biogenesis tell us about life in the universe?

2003

Journal Article

Black hole versus cosmological horizon entropy

Davis, Tamara M., Davies, P. C. W. and Lineweaver, Charles H. (2003). Black hole versus cosmological horizon entropy. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 20 (13), 2753-2764. doi: 10.1088/0264-9381/20/13/322

Black hole versus cosmological horizon entropy

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Cosmic Cartography to Counter Cosmic Conundrums
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Australian Partnership in the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (ARC LIEF administered by UNSW)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2031
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (ARC Centre of Excellence administered by Swinburne University)
    Swinburne University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    A Space Odyssey: Exploring the Universe with Gravitational-Wave Sirens
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Big Questions Institute Fellowship
    Big Questions Institute Pty Ltd
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2024
    Illuminating the Dark Universe
    ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Doubling the power of the TAIPAN survey facility (ARC LIEF grant administered by The Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Ian Potter Conference Grant: Dark Energy Survey Collaboration Meeting 2017
    Ian Potter Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Weighing Black Holes with The Australian Dark Energy Survey
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Details of the Dark Side
    Vice-Chancellor's Research and Teaching Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    The Australian European Southern Observatory Positioner (AESOP) (ARC LIEF Project administered by The University of Western Australia)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Mapping the Dark Matter with Early Type Galaxies (ARC Linkage Project administered by Swinburne University of Technology)
    Swinburne University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Mapping the Universe with the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (PanSTARRS) (ARC LIEF Grant administered by The University of Sydney)
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO) (ARC COE administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    ResTeach 2011 0.05 FTE School of Mathematics and Physics
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Fundamental physics in distant galaxies (ARC Discovery Project administered by Swinburne University)
    Swinburne University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Investigating Growth of Structure in the Universe using ASKAP and SkyMapper
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2014
    Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and Dark Flow: Galaxy motion reveals fundamental physics
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Cosmological testing of fundamental physics
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Tamara Davis is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Gravitational wave cosmology

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cullan Howlett

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Measuring Neutrino Mass with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cullan Howlett

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Weighing supermassive black holes with the Dark Energy Survey

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Benjamin Pope

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cosmology with the Dark Energy Survey

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cullan Howlett

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Machine learning cosmology

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Rossana Ruggeri

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Completing the Puzzle: Unveiling Clues for Gravitational Wave Astrophysics and Cosmology with Simulations

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cullan Howlett

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Galaxy motions with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Khaled Said Soliman

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Observing Naked-Eye Stars and their Planets with TESS

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Benjamin Pope

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Modelling exotic cosmological models in the era of next generation galaxy surveys

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cullan Howlett

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Completing the Puzzle: Unveiling Clues for Gravitational Wave Astrophysics and Cosmology with Simulations

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cullan Howlett

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Using the motions of galaxies to probe fundamental physics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cullan Howlett

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating Gravitational Wave Cosmology with Simulated Data

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cullan Howlett

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Tamara Davis directly for media enquiries about:

  • Astronomy
  • Astrophysics
  • Cosmology
  • Dark energy
  • Dark Matter
  • Exploding stars
  • Physics
  • Quantum gravity
  • Stars - astrophysics
  • Supernovae (exploding stars)
  • Universe
  • Vacuum energy

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