Professor Jorick Vink, a senior astronomer at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP), has been awarded a €2 million European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant to study how the first stars illuminated the universe after the Big Bang. The funding, part of the EU's Horizon Europe programme, is expected to create up to eight new research positions at AOP and could lead to major scientific breakthroughs.
Transformational research funding
Professor Vink described the grant as the "pinnacle of my career" and said it has the potential to be "transformational" for both the observatory and research worldwide. "I've been successful in getting grants before but none like this one – this is very prestigious," he added. The ERC Advanced Grants are designed to support senior researchers in pursuing ambitious, high-risk projects.
Unveiling the Cosmic Dark Ages
The research focuses on one of astrophysics' central questions: what ended the universe's "dark ages" and ignited the first stars. After the Big Bang, the universe expanded and entered a period known as the Cosmic Dark Ages before the first stars formed. These earliest stars are believed to have been much larger than most stars observed today, including the Sun. Their brightness flooded the universe with light, which billions of years later can be detected by instruments like the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.
Building on stellar wind research
This project builds on years of research into how stellar winds shape massive star evolution, helping to explain why stars and black holes were likely more massive in the early universe. The research will also examine the origin of chemical elements essential for life. "The oxygen we breathe, the iron in our blood, the nitrogen that we need, the carbon in our bones – that's all made in the stars," Professor Vink said.
Synergy with AOP investment
The grant announcement follows a major investment at AOP to create a new science and discovery centre, featuring a next-generation LED Planetarium and expanded research and education capabilities. Professor Vink noted that the ERC grant benefits extend beyond the observatory: "Every time society invests in fundamental research, it lifts the entire education system. Throughout history, every time people have invested in science, the whole of society has benefited."
Inspiring the next generation
Professor Vink, originally from the Netherlands and based at AOP for 17 years, recently became vice president of the Royal Astronomical Society. He hopes the project will advance scientific knowledge and inspire future scientists. "Humans want to understand their own origins. I think that's a very human wish, a desire to know where we come from. Therefore, research grants such as ERC have cultural aspects as well as benefits for science and the economy."
