My name is Michael Rizzo Smith and I am currently a first-year graduate student at Vanderbilt University in the Astrophysics PhD program.
I am originally from New Jersey and graduated from Stony Brook University in New York in May 2021 with a BS in Physics and Astronomy & Planetary Science.
After graduation, I worked full-time at The Ohio State University for two years as a research technician and data analyst for the ASAS-SN group. At OSU I researched core-collapse supernovae with the Large Binocular Telescope.
Research Interests: Theoretical Astrophysics, Supernovae and Transients.
Fun Fact: I have a 3 year old husky named Kai that loves to go on adventures with me (pictured above)!
My Research Poster
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SS Cyg Observation Poster
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RS Ophiuchi Spectral Analysis Presentation
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Research
Check out some of my work here (ADS List) or here (ORCID)! Publications (Chronological) Constraints on pre-SN outbursts from the progenitor of SN 2023ixf using the Large Binocular Telescope (arxiv)
(Co-Author)
Late Time Optical Evolution of Type II Supernovae: Detection of Normal Stellar Winds (Journal Site)
(First-Author)
The Galactic Nova Rate: Estimates from the ASAS-SN and Gaia Surveys (Journal Site)
(Co-Author)
Undergraduate Research: Condor Array Telescope The Condor Array Telescope is an astronomical research telescope built, concieved, and managed by a small project team at Stony Brook University.
The Project is funded by the Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation Program of the National Science Foundation. This is a six telescope array located in the Rio Hurtado Valley of Chile each outfitted with large format CMOS cameras.
Condor Array Telescope The Condor Array Telescope is an astronomical research telescope built, concieved, and managed by a small project team at Stony Brook University.
The Project is funded by the Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation Program of the National Science Foundation. This is disuccsed in my research section of the website but I will link the poster for this project here also.
Photometric Observations of the Dwarf Nova SS Cyg Immediately Following an Outburst In the Fall of 2020 I took V-band observations of the Dwarf Nova SS Cygni immediately following an outburst and measured the magnitude decremenet over the span of three weeks. The observation and data analsyis was carried out entirely by myself and two other
senior astrophysics students. The poster I presented on this project is linked below.
Evolution of Recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi via Optical Spectroscopy In the Fall of 2020 I utilized archived data from the SMARTS/Stony Brook Atlas of Southern Novae
to perform a spectral analysis of RS Oph's 2006 outburst. I then gave a presentation on the spectral evolution using optical
spectroscopy data. This presentation is linked below.
Education
Vanderbilt University -- Nashville, TN 2023 - PhD in Astrophysics
Stony Brook University -- Stony Brook, NY 2017 - 2021 Bachelor of Science in Physics and 2nd Major in Astronomy & Planetary Science
Magna Cum Laude
Honors Degree in Physics
Teaching Experience
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for a sophomore level Astrophysics class.
Paid Tutor for Introductory Level College Physics Courses where I create lessons, offer extra practice, and additional resources to help the student succeed.
