Faculty


Rebecca  Bernstein  
Galaxy formation and evolution. Astronomical instrumentation and optical design.

rabatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2835
ISB 281
George R.  Blumenthal  (Chancellor)  
Cosmological issues such as the role played by dark matter on the origin and evolution of structure in the universe, the generation of primordial density fluctuations and fluctuations in the CMB. Other areas of his research include galaxy formation, gamma-ray bursts, accretion disks, and active galactic nuclei.

georgeatucolick [dot] org
831-459-4291
Kerr Hall
Michael J.  Bolte  (Director - UCO Lick Observatories)  
Observation of old stellar populations in globular clusters and measurements of the ages and chemical abundances of the individual stars. Among other research interests are the dynamics of globular clusters, identifying the main sequence critical mass for white dwarf formation, and extremely metal poor (EMP) stars.

bolteatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2991
ISB 379
Jean P.  Brodie  
Studies extra-galactic globular clusters systems, young massive star clusters, and galaxy formation. Brodie also works on instrumentation for for astronomy, such as the development of a multi-object spectrograph.

brodieatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2987
ISB 345
Harland W.  Epps  
Optical design of high-performance astronomical instruments such as the LRIS and HIRES spectrograph cameras for Keck, Flamingos-2 for Gemini-South, the BINOSPEC binocular spectrograph for MMT, among others.

eppsatucolick [dot] org
831-459-3454
Nat Sci II 191
Sandra  Faber  (Department Chair)  
Galaxy formation and evolution, study of stellar populations in globular clusters, elliptical galaxies, and distant galaxy clusters. Additionally, Faber is involved in the DEIMOS project -a multi-object spectrograph for Keck- and is a core member of the DEEP team.

faberatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2944
CfAO 101
Jonathan  Fortney  
Planetary physics, with a goal of understanding planets as a class of astronomical objects. Fortney studies planetary atmospheres, the interior structure and thermal evolution of exoplanets, as well as brown dwarfs and our solar system's giant planets.

jfortneyatucolick [dot] org
831-502-7285
ISB 275
Puragra (Raja)  GuhaThakurta  
Galaxy formation and evolution: assembly, internal structure/dynamics, and chemical enrichment. Spectroscopy of resolved stellar populations in the Local Group. Distant galaxies

rajaatucolick [dot] org
831-459-5169
ISB 271
Garth  Illingworth  
Studies high-redshift galaxies to understand the process of galaxy formation, using both ground-based and Space telescopes. He is also interested in the development of next-generation telescopes.

gdiatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2843
ISB 267
David C.  Koo  
Observational cosmology. Origin and evolution of high-redshift galaxies, quasars, and gas clouds. Koo is also an active collaborator of DEEP and the center for Adaptive Optics.

kooatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2130
ISB 263
Mark  Krumholz  
Formation of massive stars and star clusters, origin of the stellar initial mass function, life cycle of molecular clouds.

krumholzatucolick [dot] org
831-459-1312
ISB 273
Gregory  Laughlin  
Theoretical astrophysics with a focus on extra-solar planetary systems, the hydrodynamics of self-gravitating disks, stellar evolution, and the long-term evolution of the universe.

laughlinatucolick [dot] org
831-459-3208
ISB 279
Douglas N.C.  Lin  
The origin of the solar system, star and planet formation, planetary atmosphere and structure, dynamical evolution of planetary systems, astrophysical fluid dynamics, interstellar medium, dynamics of stellar clusters, structure of galaxies, active galactic nuclei, and galaxy formation.

linatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2732
ISB 337
Piero  Madau  
Theoretical cosmology with an emphasis on the re-ionization of the early universe, early black holes and first mini-quasars, the star formation history of the universe, and high-resolution cosmological simulations.

pmadauatucolick [dot] org
831-459-3839
ISB 361
Bruce H.  Margon  (Vice Chancellor-Research)  
High energy astrophysics, x-ray astronomy, close binary systems, digital sky surveys.

margonatucsc [dot] edu
831-459-1596
Kerr Hall 281
Claire  Max  (Director of Center for Adaptive Optics)  
Development of adaptive optics systems for both ground-based and space telescopes. She uses adaptive optics to resolve astronomical objects such as active galactic nuclei in infrared wavelengths.

maxatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2049
CfAO 205
Jerry  Nelson  
Design and construction of large telescopes, project Scientist for Keck telescope and Thirty Meter telescope, development of adaptive optics systems.

jnelsonatucolick [dot] org
831-459-5132
CfAO 215
Jason X.  Prochaska  
Damped Ly-alpha systems, Lyman limit systems, stellar abundances, thick disk imaging, cosmological simulations, fine structure evolution, and deuterium abundance.

xavieratucolick [dot] org
831-459-2135
ISB 359
Enrico  Ramirez-Ruiz  
Studies the violent universe with an emphasis on stellar explosions, gamma-ray bursts, and accretion phenomena near compact objects.

enricoatucolick [dot] org
831-459-3400
ISB 363
Constance  Rockosi  
Galactic structure and the formation of the Milky Way. Current interests include the formation of the thick disk, structure and stellar populations at the Galactic anticenter, and the dynamics of the stellar halo

crockosiatucolick [dot] org
831-459-5246
ISB 261
Graeme H.  Smith  
Old Stellar populations in the Milky Way, their evolution and contribution to the galaxy's chemical enrichment. Study of abundances in globular cluster stars.

graemeatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2907
ISB 135
Stephen E.  Thorsett  (Dean - Physical and Biological Sciences)  
Main interest lies in the observation of compact objects, radioastronomy with an emphasis on radio pulsars, and high-energy astrophysics

thorsettatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2931
Dean's Office
Steven S.  Vogt  
Extra-solar planet search, astronomical instrumentation, and high-dispersion spectroscopy

vogtatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2151
ISB 343
Stanford E.  Woosley  
Theoretical astrophysics with a focus on supernovae explosions and gamma-ray bursts and the nucleosynthetic, hydrodynamic and energy transport processes involved in these events. Other areas of interest include aspects of nuclear astrophysics and the fate of very massive, early stars.

woosleyatucolick [dot] org
831-459-2976
ISB 259


Adjunct Faculty


Rachel  Dewey  
Radio astronomy, pulsar astrophysics, VLBI astrometry.

deweyatucolick [dot] org
831-459-3081
ISB 269
Adriane  Steinacker  
Magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) simulations of protoplanetary accretion disks and the interaction between turbulent accretion disks and planetary cores.

asteinacatucsc [dot] edu
831-459-2790
ISB 157