Astrophysicist, exploring the Universe through high-energy transients
Hi and welcome! I am Benjamin Schneider, a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM), where I work within the Galaxies, Étoiles, COsmologie (GECO) group. My research interests include high-energy transients, in particular gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), ranging from multi-wavelength studies of individual events to statistical analyses of their host galaxies, and extend to high-energy instrumentation with a focus on CCD- and CMOS-based detector technologies.
Research interests
- Gamma-ray bursts — progenitors, afterglows, multi-wavelength follow-up, and associated supernovae
- Host galaxies — properties, environments, and population studies
- X-ray instrumentation — detector characterization, calibration, and performance
- Software & pipelines — real-time tools for transient analysis and decision making
Gamma-ray bursts and host galaxies
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are among the most energetic phenomena in the Universe, observed as brief flashes of gamma-ray photons lasting from milliseconds to minutes. They are produced by catastrophic events such as the collapse of massive stars or the merger of compact objects, and are followed by broadband afterglow emission spanning from X-rays to radio wavelengths. My work focuses on the multi-wavelength study of GRBs, their associated supernovae, and their host galaxies, from the prompt and long-term emission of individual events to population-based analyses.
Follow-up observations
Rapid follow-up observations of GRBs are essential to understand the nature of these transient events. The rapid fading of GRBs require real-time reactions and extremely fast responses, whether carried out by human observers or fully robotic systems. I am a member of several international collaborations dedicated to GRB follow-up, including the Stargate program at the Very Large Telescope (VLT). I regularly serve on duty shifts to trigger rapid observations in response to new alerts, enabling the collection of high-quality data during the critical early phases of these explosions.
X-ray instrumentation
X-ray photons provide unique insight into the hot and warm matter, and energetic physical processes across the Universe. Their detection and focusing require space-based instrumentation and specialized optics (e.g., grazing-incidence designs). At their focal plane, X-ray instruments rely on detector technologies such as CCDs, as well as more recent CMOS sensors. My work has included the characterization of the Microchannel X-ray Telescope onboard the SVOM mission, as well as the development and testing of a new generation of X-ray detectors for future NASA missions, including the probe-class AXIS mission and the Lynx flagship concept.
Software & pipeline development
In modern astrophysics, coding plays a central role, from simulations to rapid reduction and analysis of real data. Python tools and pipelines support daily work on ground- and space-based observations, including fast GRB analysis. One example of tools I developped is GRBuzzer, which monitors high-energy GCN notices and delivers real-time alerts to coordinate follow-up decisions.