Expertise:
Physics Education, Astronomy Education, Interactive Learning, Diversity in STEM, Star Formation, Planet Formation, Milky Way DynamicsAn astronomer, Alexander Rudolph studies star formation and galactic structure, using radio, infrared, and optical telescopes. He has published articles, many with undergraduate student co-authors, on the properties of outflows from forming stars and circumstellar disks around such stars, the dependence of abundance gradients on galactocentric radius in the Milky Way, searches for Brown Dwarfs, IR variability of protoplanetary disks, and the properties of HII regions in the outer Galaxy.
Rudolph has also done extensive work in physics and astronomy education research (PER and AER) including studies of student learning in introductory and advanced physics classes, and in general education astronomy classes. In PER, he has done research on “flipped” classes, and led a successful effort to introduce interactive learning strategies to university physics classes in France. In AER, he co-led a national study of over 4000 students at 31 U.S. colleges and universities to determine how interactive techniques affect student learning in astronomy.
A national leader in promoting the participation of under-represented minority (URM) students and women in physics and astronomy, Rudolph is director of the California State University-University of California Ph.D. bridge program, Cal-Bridge, and the CAMPARE summer research program. In 10 years, more than 160 Cal State and community college scholars have participated in these two programs, with the majority subsequently attending graduate school in physics, astronomy, or related fields.
He serves on the Board of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) and is co-Chair of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Taskforce on Diversity and Inclusion in Astronomy Graduate Education.
Recent Grants and Fellowships:
- National Science Foundation Mid-Sized Innovations Program (MSIP), Division of Astronomy; Sub-contract from UC Berkeley with A. Parsons (PI); HERA: Unveiling the Cosmic Dawn; $975,033, 2016-2019; $649,869, 2018-2023
- National Science Foundation S-STEM Program, Division of Undergraduate Education; Principal Investigator with co-Investigators A. Baski, T. Smecker-Hane, F. Leslie, C. Hood; Cal-Bridge: A California Bridge to Physics & Astronomy PhDs for Underrepresented Students (together with SJSU and USC); $728,532; 2014-2019; $4,167,045 (total of all three grants $4,998,947), 2018-2023
- National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program, Division of Astronomy; REU Site: Life in the Universe – Astronomy and Planetary Science at the SETI Institute; Co-Investigator with M. Tiscareno (PI); $415,832 2014-2017; and $308,340, 2018-2020
- National Science Foundation PAARE Program, Division of Astronomy; Principal Investigator with co-Investigator T. Smecker-Hane; CAMPARE and Cal-Bridge: Two Synergistic Programs Forming a Successful New Model for Promoting Participation of Women and Underrepresented Students in Astronomy; $1,237,695, 2009-2013; $562,359; 2016-2018
- National Science Foundation PhysTEC program; Co-Investigator with S. McCauley (PI), H. Sadaghiani, and J. Volsey; Increasing the Number and Quality of High School Physics Teachers Graduating from Cal Poly Pomona (CPP); $74,934; 2012–2015
Selected Publications:
- With B. Lamine, M. Joyce, H. Vignolles and D. Consiglio, “Introduction of interactive learning into French university physics classrooms”, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res., 10, 010103, 2014
- “Do You Always Need a Textbook to Teach Astro 101?” Astronomy Education Review, 12 (1), 010112, 2013
- With J.A. Eisner, G.H. Rieke, M.J. Rieke, K.M. Flaherty, T.J. Arnold, J.M. Stone, S.R. Cortes, E. Cox, C. Hawkins, A. Cole, and S. Zajac, “Time-monitoring Observations of the Ro-Vibrational Overtone CO bands in Young Stars”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 434, 407, 2013
- With W.M. Schlingman, E.E. Prather, C.S. Wallace and G. Brissenden, “A Classical Test Theory Analysis of the Light and Spectroscopy Concept Inventory National Study Data Set”, Astronomy Education Review, 11, 1, 2012
- With E. Prather and G. Brissenden, “Using Research to Bring Interactive Learning into General Education Mega-Courses”, Peer Review, 13 (3), 2011
- With E.E. Prather, G. Brissenden, D. Consiglio and V. Gonzaga, “A National Study Assessing the Teaching and Learning of Introductory Astronomy. Part II. The Connection between Student Demographics and Learning”, Astronomy Education Review, 9, 1, 2010
Education:
BA, Physics, Haverford College
Ph.D., Physics, University of Chicago
Languages:
English, some French