About Me

I am a Post-doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in the Astrophysics group at the University of Potsdam. My research primarily focuses on double-white-dwarf binary stars. White dwarfs mark the endpoint of stellar evolution for intermediate-mass main-sequence stars, and will inevitably be the final stage of evolution for the Sun. However, the presence of a binary companion can majorly alter the evolution away from that of an isolated star. With two white dwarfs together as a binary, significant angular momentum can be lost from the system over time through the means of gravitational wave radiation, to the point where the stars spiral closer and closer together and hence radiate gravitational waves stronger.

I investigate systems exhibiting this effect using observational data to explore some of the final stages of stellar evolution close to the point of collision, where the orbital decay can be used to gain ultra-precise characterisation of system masses. Furthermore, for the most compact of systems, I strive to investigate the impact of mass transfer, tidal effects, and the potential presence of third bodies. My research has an immediate implication to understand type 1a supernovae, where I discovered the only double white dwarf binary that will explode as a type 1a supernova on a timescale similar to the age of the universe.

I also lead photometric and spectroscopic surveys, with a large effort around the DBL survey

Education:
PhD: University of Warwick
Master's: University of Surrey with year of research at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Palma

Research Interests:
Evolved stars, binary star systems, white dwarfs, gravitational waves, type Ia supernovae, machine learning, instrumentation and observing, planetary nebulae

Research

Publications: ADS link

First author publications:
J. Munday et al. "Classifying white dwarfs from multi-object spectroscopy surveys with machine learning". Accepted in MNRAS, arXiv: 2602.04964
J. Munday et al. “ESO Expanding Horizons White Paper: Electromagnetic characterisation of millihertz gravitational-wave sources in the Milky Way”. submitted to ESO and arXiv (Dec. 2025), arXiv: 2512.12075
J. Munday et al. "The DBL Survey II: towards a mass-period distribution of double white dwarf binaries". In MNRAS (Aug. 2025), arXiv: 2507.14123
J. Munday et al. "A super-Chandrasekhar mass type Ia supernova progenitor at 49 pc set to detonate in 23 Gyr". In Nature Astronomy (April 2025), arXiv: 2504.04522
J. Munday et al. "The DBL Survey I: discovery of 34 double-lined double white dwarf binaries". In MNRAS (Aug. 2024), arXiv: 2407.02594
J. Munday et al. "An Eclipsing 47 minute Double White Dwarf Binary at 400 pc". In MNRAS (Aug. 2023), arXiv: 2308.00036
J. Munday et al. “Two decades of optical timing of the shortest-period binary star system HM Cancri". In: MNRAS (Feb. 2023), arXiv: 2211.09834
J. Munday et al. “The post-common-envelope binary central star of the planetary nebula ETHOS 1”. In: MNRAS (Sept. 2020), arXiv: 2009.03577

Community

Teaching:
Lead organiser of a Master’s-level observing workshop Ondrejov, Czechia Apr 2026 – Sept 2026
– I led, designed and ran a two-week long workshop which teaches University of Potsdam and local Czech/Slovak Master’s students to independently conduct telescope nights, contributing credits towards their degree.
– I orchestrated all lecturing and organisation activities while leading a group on a project that I invented related to pulsating white dwarfs. Theory and techniques were taught, as well as observing on the 2 m Perek telescope.

Support Astronomer Isaac Newton Group - La Palma, Spain Nov 2022 – Nov 2023
– I operated the 2.5 m Isaac Newton Telescope while working with the Isaac Newton Group.
– I taught the telescope to professors, post-doctoral or doctoral researchers, and post-graduate visitors. I advised how to optimise observations for their scientific goals.
– I performed telescope maintenance and instrumental setup changes.
Undergraduate laboratory demonstrator, University of Warwick – Coventry, UK Oct 2021 – May 2022
– I led an experiment for 2nd year physics and astronomy undergraduates, and I graded their laboratory books and reports after the experiment.
– The experiment involved using spectrographs on small telescopes to measure the radial velocity of the Sun using absorption lines, to learn the usage and calibration of spectroscopic data

Supervised and co-supervised students
PhD student co-supervision: Gabriela Da Rosa, University of Warwick. Extremely low-mass white dwarfs Jan 2025 – Present
Master’s student: Shreyas Kathuria, University of Potsdam. White dwarf binaries April 2026 – Present
Master’s student: Ruchika Rani, University of Potsdam. Machine learning techniques with multi-object spectroscopy surveys June 2026 – Present
Master’s student: Celina Turner, University of Potsdam. Modelling the orbital trajectories of AM CVn binaries with MESA

Outreach:
4MOST Public Outreach: I am an active contributor towards 4MOST collaboration news posts, social media engagement and newsletters.
Observatory sessions: I welcomed public groups, particularly kids, in events at Warwick's campus observatory. I led a session teaching the purpose of a telescope and the science that can be done with one.
Physics outreach ambassador at the University of Surrey: I regularly engaged in physics and astronomy outreach to the public at stargazing nights. I taught workshops to school classes aged 12-15. I demonstrated a variety of aspects of physics in campus-hosted fairs aimed towards all ages.
General: I led the La Palma journal club meeting that discusses current papers and topics in astronomy with staff members and PhD/Master level students. I actively shared astronomy with the public at the Roque de los Muchachos observatory. I taught schools of undergraduates visiting the Isaac Newton Telescope.

Contact

Email: james.munday98 (@at) gmail.com

Address:
University of Potsdam Astrophysics Department
Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469 Potsdam