Originally from Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, I am a cosmologist, and since April 2025, I have been working at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth as a Stephen Hawking Fellow. Before that, I worked for three years at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at The University of Manchester. I had a short-term position prior to this for four months in the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh, which followed a 2-year position in the Cosmology and Relativity group at Queen Mary University of London, beginning in October 2019. I completed my PhD at the Institute of Cosmology & Gravitation in Portsmouth, which I started in October 2016. I am mainly interested in using radio and optical surveys of large-scale cosmic structure to understand more about how our Universe works. Please see my Research page or download my Thesis for more information on this. My research is currently funded by a Stephen Hawking Fellowship from UK Research & Innovation.
Football
I am a keen footballer, playing since a young age. Right: a picture of me having a kick-around at a campsite in St Ives, Cornwall. Below: me proudly representing my department’s staff team as captain in a charity match against the undergraduate students. An article about the game can be found here. I still play regular 7 and 5-a-side, but no longer at a “competitive” level.
I am passionate about using football to educate young players in STEM skills by providing them with the opportunity to record their own matches and analyse their performance. Plans are under development to launch this as an outreach project.
Running
I got into running around 2022, enjoying the challenge it brings and the required commitment to training. You can follow me on Strava! I’ve now raced several half-marathons and completed my first marathon in April 2025 (Manchester Marathon) where I hit my target of sub-3 hours by just 12 seconds!). I find running helps unwind my mind after a full-on day. It’s also a fantastic way to explore new areas. Right: running over a mountain stream in Les Diablerets, Switzerland, whilst at the Cosmology in the Alps 2024 conference.
Cycling
Another hobby of mine is getting out on my bike. I love most types of cycling but venturing into the forest and doing some off-road mountain biking is perhaps my favourite. Left: sun shining down on my bike at Queen Elizabeth County Park. Below: me on a cycling tour around the magnificent Cape Town and the iconic Table Mountain.
Other
When I’m not working or doing some kind of sport, I enjoy going to the pub and exploring new places. Above: me at RHS Wisley.
Steven Cunnington 