Wasif Shaqil

I am a PhD student at the Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, working with Dr. Emma Beasor and Prof. Nathan Smith (Steward Observatory, Arizona).

My work focuses on the lives and deaths of massive stars, mainly yellow and red supergiants, before they explode as supernovae. I am particularly interested in understanding how mass loss in the red supergiant phase affects their pre-supernova evolution and determines their resulting supernova types.

I completed my Master’s degree in Physics (Astronomy & Astrophysics) at the University of Hamburg in April 2025. My master’s thesis, "Tidal Interaction in the Galactic Center: The Case of X7", supervised by Dr. Diego Calderón and Prof. Dr. Stephan Rosswog, focused on the dynamics of an enigmatic gaseous and dusty feature known as X7 near the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*. This work resulted in a publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, in collaboration with researchers from Chile and the US, including 2020 Nobel Laureate Andrea Ghez.

Research

1. Tidal phenomena in the Galactic Center: The curious case of X7

Authors: Wasif Shaqil, Diego Calderón, Stephan Rosswog, Jorge Cuadra, Anna Ciurlo, Mark R. Morris, Randall D. Campbell, Andrea M. Ghez

Abstract:

Several enigmatic dusty sources have been detected in the central parsec of the Galactic Center. Among them is X7, located at only ~0.02 pc from the central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). Recent observations have shown that X7 is becoming elongated due to the tidal forces of Sgr A*. X7 is expected to be fully disrupted during its pericenter passage around 2035, which might impact the accretion rate of Sgr A*. However, its origin and nature are still unknown...

Read the full article (Astronomy & Astrophysics)

I was born in Assam, India, where I spent all of my childhood and teenage years. I completed my undergraduate degree in Physics at Gauhati University in 2021. I then moved to Germany in 2022 to pursue my Master’s degree in Physics at the University of Hamburg, which I completed in April 2025. Hamburg was home to me for three years, and I had an amazing time there, both academically and personally. After my master's degree, I got the opportunity to move to the UK and pursue my PhD at the Astrophysics Research Institute in Liverpool. And here I am, enjoying my time in Liverpool and working on some exciting research!

Apart from astrophysics, I enjoy playing PC games, bouldering, badminton, football, and reading. I also listen to a lot of music, mainly indie and alt rock!

I am a strong advocate for social justice, and I do my best to contribute to the cause in any way I can. The world could use a lot more love, empathy, and compassion, and I try to do my part in spreading these values :)

Get in touch

Whether you would like to discuss massive stars, astrophysics, or simply get in touch, feel free to reach out.

Pronouns: He / Him

Elements

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