Nicholas Strobel

Nicholas Strobel
Name	Nicholas Strobel
Occupation	Astrophysicist; Educator; Author
Alma mater	University of Arizona; Northern Arizona University
Known for	Exoplanet research; Astronomy education; Textbooks

Nicholas Strobel is an American astronomer, educator, and author known for contributions to exoplanet research, astronomical instrumentation, and undergraduate teaching. He has been active in observational programs and science communication, producing textbooks and online materials that bridge research and classroom instruction. His career spans roles in university teaching, public outreach, and collaborative research projects related to planetary science and stellar astrophysics.

Early life and education

Born and raised in the United States, he completed undergraduate studies at Northern Arizona University and graduate work at the University of Arizona, integrating training from institutions such as Lowell Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory, and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. During graduate studies he worked with faculty and researchers associated with the Arizona State University and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy on instrumentation and observational programs. His doctoral research intersected observational techniques used at facilities like the Steward Observatory and collaborations involving the Space Telescope Science Institute. Early mentors included faculty with ties to the American Astronomical Society and the International Astronomical Union.

Academic career and research

His academic appointments have included teaching positions at public and private institutions, engaging with departments affiliated with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and regional observatories. Research has focused on extrasolar planets, stellar atmospheres, and time-series photometry using telescopes at sites such as Mount Lemmon Observatory, La Silla Observatory, and collaborative networks involving the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network. He participated in observational campaigns that employed techniques developed from work at the European Southern Observatory and data products influenced by missions such as Kepler, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, and collaborations with teams linked to the Gaia mission. His publications address transit timing, light curve analysis, and methods for detecting planetary companions, often referencing methodologies used by groups at the California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

His research collaborations have connected him with scholars from institutions like University of California, Santa Cruz, University of Washington, University of Colorado Boulder, and international partners at the University of Cambridge and University of Oxford. He has used instrumentation and software approaches related to projects at the Palomar Observatory, Sierra Nevada Observatory, and data reduction pipelines inspired by teams at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Grant-supported work has involved agencies such as the National Science Foundation and partnerships with educational initiatives associated with the NASA Ames Research Center.

Publications and textbooks

He is author and coauthor of multiple textbooks and laboratory manuals designed for introductory and intermediate astronomy courses, produced for curricula similar to those at Community College of Denver, Coconino Community College, and four-year programs at institutions like the University of Arizona. These works include observational lab guides, problem sets, and instructor resources modeled after materials from the Princeton University Press, Cambridge University Press, and textbooks used at the University of California, Berkeley. His publications cover topics such as planetary astronomy, observational techniques, and introductory astrophysics, aligning pedagogically with standards promoted by the American Association of Physics Teachers and the National Science Teachers Association.

In addition to textbooks, he has contributed articles to journals and conference proceedings published by organizations including the Astronomical Journal, the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and presentations at meetings of the American Astronomical Society and regional conferences hosted by the Society for Astronomical Sciences. He has collaborated on review chapters that reference datasets and methodologies from the European Space Agency and instrument teams at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

Public outreach and teaching

He is active in public outreach, delivering lectures and planetarium programs in venues such as the Griffith Observatory, Planetary Science Institute events, and community observatories across the United States. He has developed online courseware, tutorials, and laboratory exercises compatible with platforms used by institutions like the Coursera-affiliated providers and open educational resources initiatives supported by the Sloan Foundation. His outreach efforts have included partnerships with science museums and informal science centers such as the Smithsonian Institution and regional planetariums, and participation in public nights at facilities including the Lowell Observatory and Chabot Space and Science Center.

In classroom settings he has incorporated observational projects using remote telescopes provided by networks like the MicroObservatory Project and the Global Sky Model-inspired resources, engaging students in data analysis techniques similar to those used by professional teams associated with the Space Telescope Science Institute. He has mentored undergraduate research projects that led to student presentations at meetings of the American Astronomical Society and symposia organized by the American Institute of Physics.

Awards and honors

His teaching and outreach have been recognized by institutional awards and nominations tied to excellence programs at universities and community colleges, with commendations reflecting alignment with honors granted by the American Association of University Professors and regional educational consortia. He has received grants and fellowships from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and programmatic support echoing awards from foundations like the Ford Foundation and W. M. Keck Foundation. His instructional materials and public engagement contributions have been cited in resources produced by the American Astronomical Society and educational repositories supported by the National Science Teachers Association.

Category:American astronomers Category:Astronomy educators Category:Authors of astronomy textbooks