Dr. Susan G. Neff

Astrophysics Science Division
NASA/GSFC
Code 665, Observational Cosmology
Greenbelt, MD 20771

tel: 301 286 5137
fax: 1753
e-mail: susan.g.neff @ nasa.gov

Present Position

Astrophysicist, NASA, GALEX Project Scientist

Brief Bio

Research in galaxy formation, evolution, activity cycles and related topics. Observational astrophysics, using multi-wavelength techniques with a large variety of telescopes and instruments. Science operations, data processing, and community support for connected and non-connected radio interferometers (VLA,WSRT, VLBI networks), and Ultraviolet imaging missions (UIT /ASTRO - shuttle-based, and GALEX - free-flying satellite). Development work on lightweight UV capable optics, concept developments for several missions. Branch head for UV/Optical Astronomy 1992-2000.

Educational Background

Ph.D., Astronomy, University of Virginia / NRAO, 1982, "Radio Observation of Luminosity- and Flux-Matched Samples of Quasi Stellar Objects"
M. S., Astronomy, University of Virginia, 1979
A. B., Physics, Vanderbilt University, 1976

Research Interests

Galaxy formation, galaxy evolution, activity in galaxies, how does environment and hhistory affect each of these and how do they affect galaxy development and appearance.

Current Projects

Centaurus A: GALEX, FUSE, SIRTF, HST VLA, VLT observations of the jet-cloud interactions and resultant star formation. Identification and characterization of shock regions and star-forming regions.
Extending this to other galaxies, to study as a class.

Star formation in merging galaxies: GALEX, VLA, HST, FUSE, VLBA observations of classic mergers and resulting star-formation / supernova clusters / shocked gas / hidden star clusters resulting from the interactions.

Low-luminosity AGN: VLA, VLBI, x-ray observations of compact sources that are probably low-luminosity (?lower mass?) counterparts of classical Active Galactic Nuclei.

Star formation in very low-mass galaxies - GALEX part of collaboration with ALFALFA project (Arecibo Legacy program to find and charactarize the "missing" low-mass galaxies in the nearby universe.

Star formation in outer reaches of nearby normal galaxies - GALEX observations of outer 20-50kpc disks of galaxies, where star formation
"shouldn't" be happening.

Radio emission from Ultra-luminous X-ray sources - Are they intermediate-mass black holes or are they some sort of beamed "normal"
compact object?

Selected Publications

Publications at the ADS website.