* Binaries
* Black holes
* Neutron stars, pulsars
* Stars
* Stellar evolution
* Stellar explosions
* Supernovae
* White dwarfs
* X-ray astronomy

Prof. Marten Van Kerkwijk is interested in compact objects, stars and binaries, their structure, formation and evolution, and their use to infer fundamental physical properties. His research is based on observations but includes interpretation, theory and numerical modelling as required. He generally tries to make progress using key observations and/or physical considerations of individual, carefully selected objects. His focus while in Toronto has varied, from trying to use neutron stars to study high-density and high field-strength physics, in conditions out of reach of the terrestrial experiment (and theory, as yet), to trying to understand what white-dwarf binaries lead to type Ia supernova explosions, and, more recently, to using the interstellar medium, which slightly bends radio emission, as a giant telescope with which to study radio pulsars.