Jun.-Prof. Dr. Christopher J. Riseley

I am a Junior Professor of Radio Astronomy at the Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum (AIRUB) . My research group uses radio telescopes around the world to study particle acceleration and magnetic fields in cosmic structures from individual galaxies through to galaxy groups and clusters.

We study multi-wavelength tracers of star formation in galaxies of all kinds from dwarfs to the most massive galaxies, and how the environment plays a role in influencing the evolution of these galaxies. In the galaxy group and cluster regime, my group also studies the physics of different particle acceleration mechanisms that power diffuse radio emission on large scales. The synchrotron emission associated with all of these environments traces cosmic ray electrons and magnetic fields on a variety of different scales, and we use multi-wavelength data to probe nature and distribution of these non-thermal components. Beyond these more well-defined regimes, we keep our eyes open for all the weird and wonderful sources being discovered by the maturing Pathfinder and Precursor instruments for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

I specialise in long-wavelength radio astronomy, with a particular focus on exploring data from the LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR), the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), and the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa.

Outside of my own research, I am the MWA Principal Scientist, a role I have held since 2021, and a former member of the Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) Early Career Researcher (ECR) Chapter Steering Committee (2021 - 2023).

Recent Work

Here are a selection of recent publications in which I've been involved, listed according to science themes. My full publication list is available via the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) at the link below.

Galaxy groups and clusters:
  • van Weeren et al., "MeerKAT observations of Abell 1775 and Abell 1795: the discovery of a hadronic radio halo?" (2026) in press
  • Pagliotta et al., "Constraining the magnetic field in the galaxy cluster Abell 2142 using MeerKAT L-band polarisation data" (2025) A&A, 700, A139
  • Riseley et al., "Relighting the fire in Hickson Compact Group (HCG) 15: Magnetised fossil plasma revealed by the SKA Pathfinders and Precursors" (2025) A&A, 697, A45
  • Hoang et al., "Discovery of large-scale radio emission enveloping the mini-halo in the most X-ray luminous galaxy cluster RX J1347.5–1145" (2025) A&A, 695, A240
  • Biava et al., "First evidence of a connection between cluster-scale diffuse radio emission in cool-core galaxy clusters and sloshing features" (2024) A&A, 686, A82
  • Riseley et al., "A "MeerKAT-meets-LOFAR" study of the complex multi-component (mini-)halo in the extreme sloshing cluster Abell 2142" (2024) A&A, 686, A44

Galaxies:
  • Marci-Boehncke et al., "The chosen ones: Wolf-Rayet galaxies as tracers of Lyman continuum leakage in the SDSS" (2026) submitted
  • Taziaux et al., "MEDUSA I. Tracing magnetic field structures in tidal arms of the dwarf-dwarf merger NGC 1487" (2026) submitted
  • Taziaux et al., "CHILLING: Continuum Halos in LVHIS Local Irregular Nearby Galaxies - Radio continuum spectral behavior of dwarf galaxies" (2025) in press

Surveys:
  • White et al., "The GLEAM 4-Jy (G4Jy) Sample: IV. Multiwavelength data and analysis" (2026) in press
  • White et al., "The GLEAM 4-Jy (G4Jy) Sample: III. Further host-galaxy identification, and redshift assessment" (2026) in press
  • Duchesne et al., "GLEAM-300: The GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky Murchison Widefield Array (GLEAM) survey at 300 MHz" (2025) PASA, 42 e158
  • Gaensler et al., "The Polarisation Sky Survey of the Universe's Magnetism (POSSUM): Science goals and survey description" (2025) PASA, 42 e091
  • Hopkins et al., "The Evolutionary Map of the Universe: A new radio atlas for the southern hemisphere sky" (2025) PASA, 42 e071

My Work in the Media

Abell 3266: The Conversation (AU) ; ABC Science ; SPACE.COM ; VICE ; UniBo Magazine (Italiano)

Polarisation Stacking: The Conversation (AU) ; VICE ; ICRAR ; UniBo Magazine (Italiano)

My Media and Seminars

Interview from the MWA Ten-Year Anniversary Meeting:

Colloquium from the Galactic Fidelity Seminar Series:

Get In Touch

If you want to get in contact with me, you can use the details below or reach out via my social media.