Eric Glen Blackman (born September 21, 1968 in Rochester, New York) is an American astrophysicist and professor.

Education and career

Blackman graduated from the

Harley School The Harley School is a college preparatory, independent day school in Rochester, New York, United States. History Founded in 1917 by Harriet Bentley, The Harley School was first called “The Children’s University School of Rochester.” The ...

, and then obtained undergraduate degrees in physics and mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He worked at the General Electric Research Laboratory during undergraduate summers. He subsequently completed a Master of Advanced Study in mathematics (applied math/theoretical physics,

Part III of the Mathematical Tripos Part III of the Mathematical Tripos (officially Master of Mathematics/Master of Advanced Study) is a one-year Masters-level taught course in mathematics offered at the Faculty of Mathematics, University of Cambridge. It is regarded as one of the ...

) at Cambridge University, residing at Trinity College, Cambridge, followed by a Phd at Harvard University working in theoretical astrophysics with George B. Field. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge of Cambridge University and in physics at Caltech before joining the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester. Blackman has made diverse contributions to theoretical astrophysics through 250+ research publications on topics that include stellar and planetary astrophysics, molecular clouds, planetary nebulae, accretion, jets, particle acceleration, turbulence, laboratory astrophysics, and relativistic astrophysics—including

gamma-ray bursts In gamma-ray astronomy, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are immensely energetic explosions that have been observed in distant galaxies. They are the most energetic and luminous electromagnetic events since the Big Bang. Bursts can last from ten millise ...

and active galactic nuclei. He is particularly known for work in plasma astrophysics involving magnetic fields, and principles of astrophysical dynamo theory—the latter being a theory of magnetic field origin in astrophysical objects such as

galaxies A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, dark matter, bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek ' (), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System. ...

, stars, accretion disks and

planets A planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is neither a star nor its remnant. The best available theory of planet formation is the nebular hypothesis, which posits that an interstellar cloud collapses out of a nebula to create a young ...

. Blackman has also worked on the mechanics and biomechanics of helmet protection against closed traumatic brain injury, identifying protection deficiencies in standard helmets for both head impacts and blast exposure.

Appointments and Awards

*1994 Jewett Fund Prize, Harvard University (Cambridge MA) *2000-2003 Assistant & Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester (Rochester NY) *2000-2004 Faculty Development Grant Award in Plasma Physics, US Department of Energy *2004–present Professor of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester (Rochester NY) *2005–present Fellow of the

American Physical Society The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of k ...

*2006-2007 Defense Science Study Group,

Institute for Defense Analyses The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is an American non-profit corporation that administers three federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) – the Systems and Analyses Center (SAC), the Science and Technology Policy Institute ...

(Alexandria VA) *2014-2015 Simons Fellow in Theoretical Physics *2014-2015 IBM-Einstein Fellow Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton NJ).

References

External links

Eric G. Blackman
University of Rochester
Eric G. Blackman
Google Scholar {{DEFAULTSORT:Blackman, Eric G. Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Science alumni Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Harvard University alumni Scientists from Rochester, New York University of Rochester faculty Institute for Advanced Study visiting scholars 1968 births Living people 21st-century American physicists American astrophysicists Fellows of the American Physical Society