Professor Percival's research interests focus on the properties of the Universe on the largest scales. Surveys of three-dimensional galaxy positions provide a wealth of data both on the physics just after the Big-Bang when the seed fluctuations that will grow through gravity to become galaxies were created, and on the physics driving the evolution of the Universe today. 

Expertise

• Observational cosmology
• Cosmological structure formation
• Cosmological models
• Large-Scale structure
• Galaxy surveys
• Galaxy formation & evolution

Research

Large international teams are required to undertake galaxy surveys, and Professor Percival helps to run a number of experiments. In particular, he holds the position of Survey Scientist in the on-going extended-Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, and is a primary science coordinator for the future satellite mission Euclid . He is also working on the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument and is involved in a number of other experiments and the use of their cosmological measurements. 

Awards and distinctions

• Chinese Academy of Sciences "Distinguished Scientist'' fellowship 2016.
• Co-recipient of the 2008 Royal Astronomical Society team award for the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey.
• Royal Astronomical Society 2008 Fowler Prize awarded to “individuals who have made a note-worthy contribution at an early stage of their research career”.
• 2007 Philip Leverhulme Prize awarded to “outstanding scholars (normally under the age of 36) who have made a substantial and recognised contribution to their particular field of study”