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Dr Karim Malik

Karim

Reader in Theoretical Cosmology

Email: k.malik@qmul.ac.uk
Telephone: 020 7882 3422
Room Number: G. O. Jones Building, Room 510
Office Hours: Tuesday 1130 - 1230 (or just email me)

Profile

I'm a Reader in Theoretical Cosmology at Queen Mary University of London. My main research interest is theoretical cosmology, in particular cosmological perturbation theory at linear order and beyond.


I finished my PhD at the University of Portsmouth in 2000, followed by postdocs at the IAP in Paris as a Marie-Curie Fellow and the University of Lancaster. I joined Queen Mary University of London in 2007. I have degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Stuttgart and a BSc in Mathematical Physics from the University of Sussex.

Undergraduate Teaching

I am teaching SPA7028U Advanced Cosmology in Semester B.

Postgraduate Teaching

I am teaching SPA7028P Advanced Cosmology in Semester B.

Research

Research Interests:

The main focus of my research is cosmological perturbation theory. My work these days focuses mainly on non-linear and second-order perturbation theory, but besides that I am also interested in inflationary cosmology, large scale structure formation, and early universe physics. I have also worked on preheating, primordial black holes, braneworld models, and instabilities in astrophysical fluids.

Examples of research funding:

 • 2020 – 2023: PI on Perren Fund studentship, total value £150,000 at QMUL, 01/10/2020 – 30/09/2023

• 2020 – 2023: PI on Consolidated Grant ST/T000341/1, total value £2,345,552 at QMUL, 01/04/2020 – 31/03/2023

• 2017 – 2020: CoI on Consolidated Grant ST/P000592/1, total value £1,533,698 at QMUL, 01/04/2017 – 31/03/2020

• 2016 – 2017: CoI, on PAPIIT-UNAM grant “Observables en Cosmologia Relativista”, period 01/2016 to 12/2017, value 332,019 Pesos (ca. £12,400), at QMUL and UNAM

• 2015 – 2018: CoI on Consolidated Grant ST/M001202/1, total value £1,522,261 at QMUL, 01/01/2015 – 31/03/2018 (this grant replaced by more recent Consolidated Grant)

• 2014 – 2015: CoI, on PAPIIT-UNAM grant “Fluctuaciones no-lineales en Cosmologia Relativista”, period 01/2014 to 12/2015, value 322,817 Pesos (ca. £12,000), at QMUL and IUNAM

• 2014 – 2016: CoI, on Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigacion e Innovacion Tecnologica (PAPIIT), started 2014 (until 2016), value 190,000 Pesos (ca. £8,900) p.a., at QMUL and IUNAM

• 2012 – 2015: CoI on Consolidated Grant ST/J001546/1 (previous standard grants have been amalgamated into Consolidated Grant, total value £1,632,102.00) at QMUL

• 2010: CoI, STFC research grant ST/H002855/1 (acting-PI June 2010 – September 2010) started 01/01/2011 (Postdoc D. Mulryne), value £400,361, at QMUL

• 2009: CoI, Direccion General de Asuntos del Personal Acad´emico (DGAPA) grant IN116210
(held in Mexico), started 2010 (until 2012), value 200,000 Pesos p.a., at QMUL and IUNAM

• 2008: PI, STFC research grant ST/G002150/1, 01/01/2010 – 31/12/2012 (Postdoc I. Huston), value £401,546, at QMUL

• 2006: PI, Heisenberg Stipendium (5-year German research fellowship), declined, at Bielefeld University

• 2001: EU Marie Curie Individual fellowship HPMF-CT-2000-00981, at IAP Paris

Publications

Supervision

This is not an exhaustive list and I would be happy to discuss other project possibilities.

Project Title

Frontiers of Precision Cosmology

Modern observational cosmology is built around a model of the universe that includes linear perturbations around an otherwise spatially homogeneous and isotropic background. In order to gain the maximum possible benefit from current and future observations, however, it will be necessary to understand and use second and higher-order perturbation theory. For more details click here .

Early Universe Physics

In the standard model of modern cosmology the very early universe underwent a period of extremely rapid expansion, known as inflation. This period of expansion provides the initial conditions that are necessary to explain the temperature fluctuations in the Cosmic Microwave Background, as well as the seeds of structures that later grow to become galaxies and clusters. For more details click here

Public Engagement

I enjoy outreach activities.

Recently I published the popular cosmology book, together with Prof. David Matravers,

"How Cosmologists Explain the Universe to Friends and Family"

(published by Springer in 2019).