My research

My research focusses on observing the evolution of galaxy properties through cosmic time and empirically constraining the physical processes that explain the origin of galaxies. My projects are centered at large observing campaigns to collect data of high-redshift galaxies. The current focus is on galaxy structure at large lookback time with the James Webb Space Telescope.

I am the Principle Investigator of LEGA-C, a Public Spectroscopic Survey with ESO's Very Large Telescope, the broad goal of which is characterizing for the first time the stellar content and stellar dynamical structure of galaxies at a large lookback time. The scientific exploration of this project is funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant.

Other activities

Consulting editor at Van der Wel Scientific Editing -- Astronomy, Astrophysics & more

Contact

myself image of Arjen van der Wel
Prof. dr. Arjen van der Wel
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
Ghent University
Krijgslaan 281, Building S9
9000 Ghent, Belgium
arjen.vanderwel@ugent.be
Tel.: +32-9-264-4518