Scientific Discovery Driven by Computational Imaging

Our Research Group aims to deliver the next generation of frontier science with the development of cutting-edge computational imaging and inference algorithms powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Our research extends from the development of algorithms and software to applications that deliever high-profile scientific results from the state-of-the-art instruments and help design next-generation facilities.

A major research focus is on black hole imaging with the Event Horizon Telescope and its future extensions. Our research landscape is expanding to other astronomy and non-astronomy applications.

The research group is deeply integrated into the BASP Lab, a world-leading research initiative led by Prof Yves Wiaux to advance computational imaging across disciplines, bridging fundamental theory, algorithm design, and real-world applications from astronomy to medicine.

Meet the People

Our Research Programmes

Infographic about a project on black holes, with a starry night sky background, showing the image of a black hole, a red rectangle with 'The Royal Society' text, and radio telescopes at the bottom.

  • TomoGrav is a £4M research programme funded by the Royal Society's Faraday Discovery Fellowship and jointly led by Prof Akiyama and Prof Yves Wiaux. It aims to develop cutting-edge computational imaging techniques to reconstruct three-dimensional views and movies of black holes. The programme also explores how these technologies can benefit other fields, including medical imaging and space geodesy.

Image of a black hole with glowing orange and yellow ring against a dark background.

  • EHT is an astronomical facility renowned for the first-ever images of a black hole. Our group members play a leading role of the scientific frontier of black hole imaging through the international EHT collaboration, including Prof Akiyama’s contributions to the first-ever images of a black hole and his current role as the Deputy Project Scientist.

Digital illustration of Earth in space with interconnected glowing yellow lines and a satellite orbiting nearby.

  • The Black Hole Explorer (BHEX) is a proposed space mission concept to extend the Event Horizon Telescope to the space to explore the universe at the sharpest-ever angular resolution. Our research group is the only UK partner of the mission and has multiple leadership roles, including Prof Akiyama’s roles to lead a science team and the Japanese Consortium.

Large white satellite dish antenna pointed skyward against cloudy sky with trees below

  • Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), the technique used by the Event Horizon Telescope to image black holes, also plays a vital role in space geodesy, enabling precise measurements of the Earth's rotation, orientation and motion. Our group transfers advanced imaging and signal-processing techniques developed for black hole astronomy to geodetic VLBI, aiming to improve the precision and capabilities of Earth measurements.