Dr Huynh is currently making an image of an area slightly bigger than a full Moon in a part of the sky called the Chandra Deep Field South.
This part of sky has been well studied by telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope and Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
Dr Huynh was also, until recently, the deputy international SKA project scientist. Working with project scientist Joe Lazio and astronomers around the world, her role was to ensure that the goals of astronomers are met by the technical design of the SKA.
“I was essentially the interface between astronomers and engineers for the SKA project,” Dr Huynh said.
“We are continually refining and updating the science case of the SKA to derive more specific technical requirements for the engineers.”
“I have been interested in the SKA project for years and the chance to play a key role in its development was very attractive.”
Before arriving at ICRAR, Dr Huynh studied distant galaxies with NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. She also developed a compact source catalogue of objects both in and beyond the Milky Way using Planck, a European Space Agency satellite.
“I joined ICRAR because it is growing so rapidly, with many leading researchers in radio astronomy coming from around the world,” she said.
“I like that I am challenged every day.”
Science with the SKA. Credit: SKA Office.
Dr Minh Huynh spends her days observing distant super-massive black holes called active galactic nuclei and searching for carbon monoxide in far away galaxies.