Payton E. Rodman
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0HA
p.e.rodman@ast.cam.ac.uk
www.paytonelyce.com
Summary of Research Interests
My current research, supervised by Professor Christopher Reynolds, focuses on the production of strong magnetic fields via dynamo action within accretion discs around supermassive black holes, such as those found in the centres of massive galaxies. My thesis aims to investigate different field configurations and their evolution using the magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) code Athena++.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy, University of Cambridge, 2019-present
- Gates Cambridge Scholar
- Supervisor: Professor Christopher Reynolds
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Physics, University of Tasmania, 2018
- Awarded first class Honours with University Medal
- Thesis: Probing Intracluster Gas with Faraday Rotation from Black Hole Jets
- Supervisors: Dr Stanislav Shabala, Dr Ross Turner
Bachelor of Science in Physics and Applied Mathematics, University of Tasmania, 2015-2017
Refereed Publications
- Radio Galaxy Zoo: observational evidence for environment as the cause of radio source asymmetry
- Rodman, P.E., Turner, R.J., Shabala, S.S., Banfield, J.K., Wong, O.-I., Andernach, H., Garon, A.F., Kapińska, A.D., Norris, R.P., Rudnick, L. (2019), MNRAS, 482(4):5625-5641
Research Experience
Undergraduate Vacation Scholar, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, Nov 2016—Feb 2017
- Supervisor: Dr Cormac Reynolds
- Used large-scale, multi-epoch surveys to study variability in radio sources caused by inhomogeneities in the interstellar and intergalactic medium.
Summer Research Student, University of Tasmania, Nov 2015—Feb 2016
- Supervisors: Dr Stanislav Shabala, Dr Ross Turner
- Used data from the citizen science project Radio Galaxy Zoo to study whether nearby galaxy clustering affects the physical properties of AGN jets, with focus on classical double radio galaxies.
Awards, Prizes, and Scholarships
- 2019. University Medal (UTAS)
- 2019. Cambridge Australia Scholarship (Cambridge; Honorary)
- 2019. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
- 2018, 2017. Dean’s Honour Roll (UTAS)
- 2018. Ken McCracken Prize (UTAS)
- 2018. Vice-Chancellor’s Leadership Award (UTAS)
- 2018. Don Gaffney Scholarship (UTAS)
- 2017. AIP Summer Meeting Travel Scholarship (AIP)
- 2017. Australian Institute of Physics Prize (AIP)
- 2017. TEMCO Community Foundation Scholarship in Science (UTAS)
- 2016. Sir Phillip Fysh Prize (UTAS)
- 2016. CSIRO Undergraduate Vacation Scholarship (CSIRO)
- 2015. Dean’s Summer Research Scholarship (UTAS)
- 2015. John Fox Memorial Prize (UTAS)
- 2015. F.M. Young Memorial Prize (UTAS)
- 2015. Dr. Peter Smith Scholarship in the Physical Sciences (UTAS)
Department Talks
Cambridge Institute of Astronomy, Wednesday Seminar talk, 2021
Cambridge Institute of Astronomy, X-ray BunClub, Jan 2020
- Environment as a cause of radio source asymmetry
UTAS School of Natural Sciences, Sept 2019
- AGN accretion disks and X-ray variability
UTAS School of Natural Sciences, Oct 2018
- Probing Intra-Cluster Gas with Faraday Rotation from Black Hole Jets
CSIRO Astronomy & Space Science, 15 Minutes of Fame, Feb 2017
- The Spectral Signature of Interstellar Scintillation
UTAS School of Natural Sciences, Feb 2016
- Is environment the cause of radio jet asymmetry in Active Galactic Nuclei?
Teaching Experience
Supervisor (recitation sections of 3 students), University of Cambridge, Lent 2020
- Part II Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Marker, University of Tasmania
- Statistical Physics and Solid State Physics, Sem 2 2019
- Physics 1A, Sem 1 2018, 2019
- Physics 1B, Sem 2 2018
Peer tutor, University of Tasmania, Sem 1 2017
Technical Skills
- Programming / scripting languages: C++, Python, Matlab, LaTeX
- Simulation Suites: Athena++, PLUTO
Public Outreach
- 2017-2019. Tastrofest (1hr), invited public lectures on black holes
- 2016-2019. University of Tasmania Open Days and Cub Scout Visits, regular volunteer
- 2019. Tasmanian Youth Science Forum Panellist
- 2018. UTAS Science & Engineering Investigation Awards Head Judge
- 2018. BeakerStreet@TMAG Roving Scientist
- 2018. Festival of Bright Ideas Presenter
- 2018. Young Tassie Scientist