Profile Details

Create Project

★★★★★

☆☆☆☆☆

USD 50 /hr

★★★★★

☆☆☆☆☆

Hire {0}. {1}

South Africa

USD 50 /hr

Experienced Freelance Academic Researcher / Educator / Science Communicator & Writer / Reviewer & Analyst

Profile Summary

I am a PhD-qualified researcher and analyst with extensive experience in high-level academic research, high-level scientific writing and communication, data analysis and summarisation, and high-level reporting and analysis – encompassing the natural sciences and environmental sectors. I have authored or co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed research articles with over 800 citations to date (h-index: 16). My research remains active, with my most recent publication appearing in 2026. I have taught more than 140 semester-level courses in various formats (in-class / correspondence / live online) at all undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Subjects taught include stellar structure & evolution, general astronomy, archaeo-astronomy, introductory physics, renewable energy technologies, advanced mechanics, advanced electromagnetism, solid-state physics, advanced statistical physics, advanced quantum mechanics, mathematical methods in physics, time series analysis, societal impacts of science, and aspects of high-energy astrophysics. I have been an avid communicator of science over the past forty years, using in-class lectures, outdoor presentations under the night sky, formal academic seminars, and published articles and newsletters to captivate primary and secondary schoolchildren, the general public, and highly-educated professionals on topics spanning a broad spectrum of science, climate change, and philosophy. I taught three semester-level courses (undergraduate and postgraduate) in 2025 and am teaching two postgraduate courses in 2026. Over the past six years I have edited almost 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles for Cactus Communications, one of the world's leading academic editing firms. My work involved preparing manuscripts by non-native English authors for submission to international journals — requiring exceptional command of academic English, cross-disciplinary scientific literacy, and meticulous attention to detail. This work spanned multiple scientific and engineering disciplines, requiring rapid mastery of unfamiliar technical content while maintaining consistently high accuracy, clarity, and adherence to journal-specific style guidelines. I recently authored a comprehensive, high-level environmental risk report (exceeding 40,000 words) for the Fair Finance Coalition of Southern Africa (FFCSA), assessing the environmental risks associated with deep-sea gas exploration off the coast of Northern Mozambique. The report was commissioned to inform investment decisions on proposed gas extraction projects in the region, and was grounded entirely in peer-reviewed research and allied scientific literature, drawing on 140 individually referenced documents. An extract of my report was published by the FFCSA: https://tinyurl.com/Engelbrecht-Risk I deliver work that is thorough, lucidly written, and deadline-driven. I work with academic institutions, researchers, consultancies, NGOs, environmental organisations, and businesses that need reliable, intelligent desk research, instructional materials and delivery, reviewing and analysis, or science communication and writing – without the overhead of a full-time hire. if your work sits at the intersection of my well-honed skills and experience, I would be glad to hear from you.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Astrophysics
• ☆ Climate Science
• ☆ Technical & Scientific Writing
• ☆ Science Communication

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting

Writing Technical Writing, General Proofreading & Editing

Research Feasibility Study, Fact Checking, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Work Experience

University of Johannesburg

- Present

Visiting Senior Research Associate

University of Johanneburg

January 2020 - Present

Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor

University of Johannesburg

July 2001 - December 2019

Consultant / Entrepeneur

Self Employed

July 1998 - June 2001

Lecturer, Senior Lecturer

University of South Africa

April 1986 - June 1998

Data Scientist/Technician/Astronomer

South African Astronomical Observatory

January 1980 - March 1986

Education

PhD

University of Cape Town

April 1986 - June 1994

BSc (Honours) (Physics)

University of Pretoria

January 1979 - December 1979

BSc

University of Pretoria

January 1976 - December 1978

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Chris Engelbrecht, Derya Sürgit, Mücahit Kuz, Volkan Bakış, Fred Marang (2026). Absolute parameters of the southern detached eclipsing binary DG Mic . New Astronomy.

Ahmet Erdem, Derya Sürgit, Chris A Engelbrecht, Petr Zasche, Volkan Bakış, Fred Marang (2024). On the nature of the eccentric eclipsing binary star SY Phe with a pulsating γ Dor component . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

P. Zasche, D. Sürgit, A. Erdem, C. A. Engelbrecht, F. Marang (2023). First detailed study of two eccentric eclipsing binaries: TYC 5378-1590-1 and TYC 8378-252-1 . Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Derya Sürgit, Petr Zasche, Petr Hadrava, Ahmet Erdem, Chris A Engelbrecht, Fred Marang, Martin Mašek, Daniel J Stevens (2023). Apsidal motion and absolute parameters of GV Nor and V881 Sco based on mid-resolution spectroscopy and TESS photometry . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Chris Engelbrecht, David Mkrtichian, Khemsinan Gunsriviwat, Holger Lehmann, Andrew Tkachenko, Victor Nazarenko (2022). Mass-Accreting Pulsating Components of Algols . Galaxies.

Derya Sürgit, Ahmet Erdem, Chris A Engelbrecht, Fred Marang (2020). Absolute parameters of three southern eclipsing binaries: DQ Car, BK Ind, and V4396 Sgr . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

P van Heerden, C A Engelbrecht, P Martinez (2020). Pulsation mode switching in the pulsating star HD 81589 and a proposed classification as a field FaRPB star . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Chris Engelbrecht, David Mkrtichian, Khemsinan Gunsriwiwat, Napaporn A-thano, Victor Nazarenko (2020). Pulsations in Algols . EPJ Web of Conferences.

L A Balona, G Handler, S Chowdhury, D Ozuyar, C A Engelbrecht, G M Mirouh, G A Wade, A David-Uraz, M Cantiello (2019). Rotational modulation in TESS B stars . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Lisa A. Crause, David Gilbank, Carel van Gend, Hannah L. Worters, Craig Sass, Enrico J. Kotze, Stephen Potter, Amanda Sickafoose, Ramotholo Sefako, John Southworth, et al. (2019). SpUpNIC (Spectrograph Upgrade: Newly Improved Cassegrain): a versatile and efficient low- to medium-resolution, long-slit spectrograph on the South African Astronomical Observatory’s 1.9-m telescope . Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems.

Sowgata Chowdhury, Santosh Joshi, Chris A. Engelbrecht, Peter De Cat, Yogesh C. Joshi, K. T. Paul (2018). A study of pulsation & rotation in a sample of A-K type stars in the Kepler field . Astrophysics and Space Science.

R. Kgoadi, I. Whittingham, C. Engelbrecht (2017). Searching for Pulsating Stars Using Clustering Algorithms . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union.

D. Sürgit, A. Erdem, C.A. Engelbrecht, H.P. van Heerden, R. Manick (2017). Absolute parameters of detached binaries in the southern sky - III: HO Tel . New Astronomy.

Chris Engelbrecht, Refilwe Kgoadi, Fabio Frescura (2017). A search for low-metallicity pulsating B stars . EPJ Web of Conferences.

A. Erdem, D. Sürgit, C.A. Engelbrecht, H.P. van Heerden, R. Manick (2016). Absolute parameters of eclipsing binaries in Southern Hemisphere sky – II: QY Tel . New Astronomy.

L. A. Balona, C. A. Engelbrecht, Y. C. Joshi, S. Joshi, K. Sharma, E. Semenko, G. Pandey, N. K. Chakradhari, David Mkrtichian, B. P. Hema, et al. (2016). The hot γ Doradus and Maia stars . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

D. Sürgit, A. Erdem, C.A. Engelbrecht (2015). Absolute parameters of southern eclipsing binary: MW Pup . New Astronomy.

A. Erdem, D. Sürgit, C. A. Engelbrecht, H. P. Van Heerden (2015). Absolute Parameters of Detached Binaries in the Southern Sky – I: V349 Ara and V4403 Sgr . Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia.

A. Sodor, P. De Cat, D. J. Wright, C. Neiner, M. Briquet, P. Lampens, R. J. Dukes, G. W. Henry, M. H. Williamson, E. Brunsden, et al. (2014). Extensive study of HD 25558, a long-period double-lined binary with two SPB components . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Á. Sódor, P. De Cat, D. J. Wright, C. Neiner, M. Briquet, R. J. Dukes, F. C. Fekel, G. W. Henry, M. H. Williamson, M. W. Muterspaugh, et al. (2013). Extensive spectroscopic and photometric study of HD 25558, a long orbital-period binary with two SPB components . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union.

C. A. Engelbrecht (2013). Extracting oscillation frequencies from data: various approaches . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union.

L. A. Balona, A. Pigulski, P. De Cat, G. Handler, J. Gutiérrez-Soto, C. A. Engelbrecht, F. Frescura, M. Briquet, J. Cuypers, J. Daszyńska-Daszkiewicz, et al. (2011). Kepler observations of the variability in B-type stars . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Chris A. Engelbrecht, Fabio A. M. Frescura, Sashin L. Moonsamy (2010). Multicolour studies of β Cephei stars in the LMC . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union.

C. A. Engelbrecht, F. A. M. Frescura, B. S. Frank, P. R. Nicol (2010). Multi-season photometry of the newly-discovered roAp star HD75445 . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union.

D. Kilkenny, D. O'Donoghue, L. Crause, C. Engelbrecht, N. Hambly, H. MacGillivray (2009). Two new pulsating hot subdwarf stars from the Edinburgh-Cape survey . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

F. A. M. Frescura, C. A. Engelbrecht, B. S. Frank (2008). Significance of periodogram peaks and a pulsation mode analysis of the Beta Cephei star V403 Car . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

J. W. Menzies, F. Marang, J. D. Laing, I. M. Coulson, C. A. Engelbrecht (1991). UBV(RI)C photometry of equatorial standard stars. A direct comparison between the northern and southern systems . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

L. A. Balona, C. A. Engelbrecht, F. Marang (1987). Achernar . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

C. A. Engelbrecht (1986). Mode identification of Beta Cephei stars in NGC 3293 . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

C. A. Engelbrecht, L. A. Balona (1986). A   Cephei variable in an eclipsing binary in the cluster NGC 3293 . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

L. A. Balona, C. A. Engelbrecht (1986). The nature of Be stars: periodic variables in the cluster NGC 3766 . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

L. A. Balona, C. A. Engelbrecht (1985). Photometry and frequency analysis of line profile variables . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

L. A. Balona, C. A. Engelbrecht (1985). Mapping of the beta Cepheid instability strip: the cluster NGC 6231 . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

D. J. Stickland, B. D. Kelly, J. A. Cooke, I. Coulson, C. Engelbrecht, D. Kilkenny, J. Spencer-Jones (1984). RZ Gru - a UX UMa 'disc star' . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

L. A. Balona, C. Engelbrecht (1983). Observations of Beta Cephei stars in NGC 3293 . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

L. A. Balona, C. Engelbrecht (1979). The Beta Canis Majoris star 19 Mon . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

PREPRINT

Chris Engelbrecht, Refilwe Kgoadi, Ian Whittingham, Andrew Tkachenko(2019). General classification of light curves using extreme boosting . arXiv

C. Ulusoy, C. A. Engelbrecht, T. Gülmez(2012). New studies of a variety of Southern pulsating B stars . arXiv

C. A. Engelbrecht, F. A. M. Frescura, B. S. Frank(2009). Application of Monte Carlo-based statistical significance determinations to the Beta Cephei stars V400 Car, V401 Car, V403 Car and V405 Car . arXiv