Dr. Will Roper

Research Software Engineer

Will is a computational astrophysicist with a background in simulating the formation and evolution of the first galaxies. His work has involved developing and using large-scale cosmological simulations, with a particular focus on high-performance computing, performance optimisation, and translating theoretical and observational data into physical understanding.

He is a core maintainer of SWIFT, an open-source simulation code used across astrophysics and cosmology, and leads the development of its zoom-simulation framework. This work enables researchers to simulate individual galaxies and regions in detail while retaining the influence of their much larger cosmological environment, at a fraction of the computational cost of traditional techniques.

Will also leads the development of Synthesizer, a Python and C++ framework for producing synthetic astronomical observations from theoretical models and numerical simulations. The software forms part of the Synthesizer project, a wider effort focused on the forward and inverse modelling of theory and observation in astronomy.

Away from research software, Will is a passionate advocate for public engagement, using simulations and interactive technology to bring astrophysics to wider audiences through his role as Chief Technical Officer at Syzygy Labs. His simulation work contributed to the Netflix documentary series Our Universe through a collaboration with the visual-effects studio Lux Aeterna. He also works with Atlantic Studios to develop immersive astronomy experiences, including Cosmos in Focus for Apple Vision Pro and Cosmos Unseen: Black Holes for Android XR, the latter produced in partnership with Google. Will also maintains a close relationship with Future Lab at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where he has developed interactive exhibits combining simulations, visualisation, and physical installations to explore cutting-edge astronomy, the evolution of the Universe, and the formation of the Moon.