Jeff Mangum (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)
Jeff Mangum (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)
Editor-in-Chief/ Scientist
I was born and grew up in the small farming community (population ~4000) of Orland California (which was in the path of totality during the total solar eclipse of January 1, 1889…I was not home at the time, unfortunately…). Interest in astronomy came at an early age, where I found material to feed my appetite for the wonders of the cosmos in my local public library, including Mercury magazine and PASP. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy I went to graduate school at the University of Virginia. I finished my Masters (1988) and PhD degrees (1990) in Astronomy, working primarily as a Junior Research Associate with Al Wootten at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in a relatively new yet growing field of millimeter wavelength astronomy. After several postdoctoral and scientific staff positions I moved to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Tucson Arizona in 1995, working as the Deputy Assistant Director and Resident Astronomer for the NRAO 12m Telescope on Kitt Peak. In 2004 I moved to NRAO headquarters in Charlottesville Virginia as a Scientist working on the new Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) project. I was appointed Editor-in-Chief of PASP in 2013.
My research revolves around a desire to understand how stars form both in our Galaxy and external galaxies. I use molecular spectral line and continuum measurements, made mainly at radio through submillimeter wavelengths, to study the physical, dynamical, and chemical environment in regions were stars are forming. I also have an interest in radio astronomical observing techniques and instrumentation, and have helped to develop and characterize the telescope and other components of several radio telescope observatories. I also have an interest in education and public outreach, including serving in various capacities organizing and leading NRAO’s undergraduate and graduate research program and working closely with NRAO’s EPO division on its outreach efforts.
