Personal profile
Biography
2020 - now: Professor of Astrophysics, The University of Manchester
2017 - 2020: Reader in Astrophysics, The University of Manchester
2014 - 2017: Lecturer in Astrophysics, The University of Manchester
2014 - 2016: Marie Curie Fellow, The University of Manchester
2013 - 2014: Lecturer in Astrophysics, University of Southampton
2012 - 2013: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Southampton
2008 - 2011: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Toronto
2003 - 2009: PhD in Astrophysics, McGill University
Research interests
My research covers on a wide variety of topics related to neutron stars, pulsars, transients and binary systems. I am mostly interested in using them as tools for fundamental physics, such as probing matter under extreme densities and testing of gravity theories.
You can read more on my personal website: www.renebreton.org/research.html.
I am also interested in the topics of remote sensing for agriculture. I am currently working on a project to track the spread of an invasive species called Parthenium in Pakistan using satellite imaging: https://blog.invasive-species.org/2018/10/12/when-astronomers-meet-ecologists-how-remote-sensing-can-tackle-parthenium-in-pakistan/.
My group
Other research
Public Engagement
I am very committed to public engagement and outreach. Have a look at some of the activities that I am involved with on my website: www.renebreton.org/outreach.html.
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Radio Pulsars in Binary Systems, McGill University
Award Date: 25 May 2009
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Digital Futures
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Discovery of 30 Galactic radio transient pulsars with MeerTRAP
Tian, J., Singh, S., Stappers, B. W., Turner, J. D., Rajwade, K. M., Bezuidenhout, M. C., Caleb, M., Pastor-Marazuela, I., Jankowski, F., Flynn, C., Karuppusamy, R., Barr, E. D., Kramer, M., Breton, R., Clark, C. J., Champion, D. J. & Thongmeearkom, T., 8 Nov 2025, In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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MeerKAT discovery of a hyperactive repeating fast radio burst source
Tian, J., Pastor-Marazuela, I., Rajwade, K. M., Stappers, B. W., Shaji, K., Hanmer, K. Y., Caleb, M., Bezuidenhout, M. C., Jankowski, F., Breton, R., Kramer, M., Groot, P. J., Bloemen, S., Vreeswijk, P., Pieterse, D., Woudt, P. A., Fender, R. P., Wijnands, R. A. D. & Buckley, D. A. H., 30 Jun 2025, In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 540, 2, p. 1685–1700Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
SN 2023tsz: a helium-interaction-driven supernova in a very low-mass galaxy
GOTO, 1 Feb 2025, In: MNRAS. 536, 4, p. 3588-3600 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A MeerKAT view of the double pulsar eclipses. Geodetic precession of pulsar B and system geometry
Lower, M. ~., Kramer, M., Shannon, R. ~., Breton, R. ~., Wex, N., Johnston, S., Bailes, M., Buchner, S., Hu, H., Venkatraman Krishnan, V., Blackmon, V. ~., Camilo, F., Champion, D. ~., Freire, P. ~. ~., Geyer, M., Karastergiou, A., van Leeuwen, J., McLaughlin, M. ~., Reardon, D. ~. & Stairs, I. H., 1 Feb 2024, In: AAP. 682, p. A26Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
AT2024ggi: confirmation of an infant transient at 7 Mpc and improved constraint on explosion epoch
GOTO collaboration, Killestein, T., Ackley, K., Kotak, R., Ramsay, G., Steeghs, D., Pursiainen, M., Dyer, M., Jiménez-Ibarra, F., Lyman, J., Ulaczyk, K., Galloway, D., Dhillon, V., O'Brien, P., Noysena, K., Breton, R., Nuttall, L., Pallé, E., Pollacco, D. & Kumar, A. & 2 others, , 11 Apr 2024, Transient Name Server.Research output: Other contribution
Open Access
Projects
- 2 Finished
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Astrophysics and Cosmology Research at the JBCA 2023-2026
Battye, R. (PI), Breton, R. (CoI), Brown, M. (CoI), Dickinson, C. (CoI), Grainge, K. (CoI), Keith, M. (CoI), Piccirillo, L. (CoI), Smith, R. (CoI), Stappers, B. (CoI) & Weltevrede, P. (CoI)
1/04/23 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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Astrophysics and Cosmology Research at the JBCA 2020-2023
Battye, R. (PI), Beswick, R. (CoI), Breton, R. (CoI), Brown, M. (CoI), Browne, I. (CoI), Browning, P. (CoI), Chluba, J. (CoI), Dickinson, C. (CoI), Fuller, G. (CoI), Garrett, M. (CoI), George, D. (CoI), Grainge, K. (CoI), Gray, M. (CoI), Jackson, N. (CoI), Kay, S. (CoI), Keith, M. (CoI), Kerins, E. (CoI), Kramer, M. (CoI), Leahy, P. (CoI), Lyne, A. (CoI), Muxlow, T. (CoI), O'Brien, T. (CoI), Piccirillo, L. (CoI), Scaife, A. (CoI), Smith, R. (CoI), Spencer, R. (CoI), Stappers, B. (CoI), Weltevrede, P. (CoI) & Zijlstra, A. (CoI)
1/04/20 → 31/03/23
Project: Research
Prizes
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FP7 Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship
Breton, R. (Recipient), 1 Nov 2014
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Impacts
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Jodrell Bank astronomy research inspires millions of people from a wide range of backgrounds to be more engaged with science
O'Brien, T. (Participant), Beswick, R. (Participant), Breton, R. (Participant), Dickinson, C. (Participant), Garrington, S. (Participant) & Kramer, M. (Participant)
Impact: Economic, Attitudes and behaviours, Awareness and understanding
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Radio astronomy and big data - bringing STEM training to the developing world
Beswick, R. (Participant), Scaife, A. (Participant), Stappers, B. (Participant), Wilkinson, P. (Participant), Breton, R. (Participant) & Richards, A. (Participant)
Impact: Economic, Policy
Press/Media
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Spotlight on: Space
O'Brien, T., Beswick, R., Breton, R., Dickinson, C., Scaife, A. & Stappers, B.
1/07/22
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert comment
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THE CONVERSATION: How my astronomy data from the Lovell telescope was used to create an immersive light and sound show
30/07/18
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research