Staff Profile

Career:

• 2023 - : NuACT (Tenure Track) Fellow (Newcastle University, UK)
• 2018 - 2023: MPA Fellow (Max-Planck-Institute for Astrophysics, Germany)
• 2015 - 2018: NOVA Fellow (Leiden University, the Netherlands)
• 2011 - 2015: PhD in Astrophysics (Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK)

I research Galaxy and Supermassive Black Hole Evolution using a combination of analytic modelling, numerical radiation-hydroynamic simulations and multi-wavelength observations. My interests include:

• Galaxy evolution and the impact of active galactic nuclei (AGN),
• Physics of AGN feedback (e.g. accretion disc winds, momentum-, energy-driving, radiation pressure),
• Outflow driving mechanisms and multi-phase structure in galactic outflows and the circumgalactic medium,
• High-z quasars, supermassive black hole growth, quasar cosmic environments.

I am behind the development of new numerical methodology to simulate physical processes occuring in active galactic nuclei (AGN), including AGN winds and radiation, and how they affect galaxy evolution. While more inclined to Theoretical Astrophysics, I am a member of multiple global collaborations involved in observational campaigns with telescopes such as ALMA, JWST and VLT.

2025/2026: Lecturer for Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics, part of the 4th year module Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics (MSP8810). Also supervised a 3rd year undegraduate Team Project (PHY3025) and two extended 4th Research Projects (PHY8055),

2024/2025: Supervised a 3rd year undegraduate Group Project (PHY3025).

• Articles

  • Costa T. The host dark matter haloes of the first quasars. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2024, 531(1), 930-944.
  • Bhagwat A, Costa T, Ciardi B, Pakmor R, Garaldi E. SPICE: the connection between cosmic reionization and stellar feedback in the first galaxies. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2024, 531(3), 3406-3430.
  • Ward S, Costa T, Harrison C, Mainieri V. AGN-driven outflows in clumpy media: multiphase structure and scaling relations. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2024, 533(2), 1733-1755.
  • Ward SR, Harrison CM, Costa T, Mainieri V. Cosmological simulations predict that AGN preferentially live in gas-rich, star-forming galaxies despite effective feedback. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2022, 514(2), 2936-2957.
  • Costa T, Arrigoni Battaia F, Farina E, Keating L, Rosdahl J, Kimm T. AGN-driven outflows and the formation of Lya nebulae around high-z quasars. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2022, 517(2), 1767-1790.