Professor Oleg Smirnov

Distinguished Professor Oleg Smirnov holds the SARAO Research Chair in Radio Astronomy Techniques & Technologies (RATT) at Rhodes University, and also heads the Radio Astronomy Research Group at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO).

He is an expert in observational radio interferometry, calibration and imaging algorithms, data processing and software infrastructure for the new generation of radio telescopes, including South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope, a precursor for the Square Kilometre Array.

His RATT group has produced some of the most spectacular MeerKAT images published to date, and was recently honoured with the NRF’s Science Team Award for 2023. Prof Smirnov holds an NRF A-rating.