Jason Steffen

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Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Expertise: Astronomy, Exoplanets, Cosmology, Dark matter and energy, Gravitation, General physics

Biography

Jason Steffen works in the field of exoplanets — planets that orbit distant stars. He has been a member of the science team for NASA's Kepler mission.  He continues to analyze data from that mission to understand the properties of planets and planetary systems. He also worked on projects related to dark matter, dark energy, and gravity.

Steffen is originally from Utah and attended graduate school in Seattle. Before coming to ºÚÁÏÍø, he was the Lindheimer Fellow at Northwestern University and the Brinson Fellow at Fermilab outside of Chicago.

In addition to his work in astrophysics, he is known for the Steffen Method, a procedure to efficiently board passengers on an airplane.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Physics, University of Washington, Seattle
  • B.S. in Physics and Mathematic, Weber State University

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Jason Steffen In The News

SlashGear
Late in 2023, a video shared on Reddit that captured a passenger plane flying over San Francisco went viral because it appeared to be levitating mid-air. While some fighter jets can hover in place, there aren't any commercial planes with the technology to do so. What you see in the video is an optical illusion that has more to do with the concept of reference points and motion than any secret hover mode.
Mashable
It's actually good news that NASA spotted a sizable asteroid with a (small) chance of hitting Earth in 2032. It means our asteroid-sleuthing telescopes are working.
Nature
In Hidden in the Heavens, Jason Steffen tells the tale of the Kepler mission: from its conception in the early 1980s, through its long road to approval in 2001, to the drama of its launch in 2009, to its bounty of early science results, to its heartbreaking demise in 2014, to its miraculous second life as the K2 mission through 2018. During its lifetime, Kepler detected some 5,000 planets. Those of us who worked on it were blessed to be part of a revolution in astronomy. The book is, at turns, a popular science survey of exoplanet discovery, an oral history of the Kepler mission, and Steffen’s own personal memoir.
CDN
The process of boarding an airplane,often perceived as a simple routine, has been the subject of study and discussion for years. Airlines, always looking to optimize their operations and improve the passenger experience, have explored different strategies to streamline this process. In this context, American Airlines, one of the world's leading airlines, took a step forward by implementing an innovative boarding system, designed to transform the way travelers begin their journey.
All Jason Steffen In The News

Articles Featuring Jason Steffen

ºÚÁÏÍø Newsmakers 2024: November
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Campus News | December 3, 2024

This month’s frosty headlines and highlights from the students and faculty of ºÚÁÏÍø.

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Campus News | November 4, 2024

A monthly roundup of the top news stories at ºÚÁÏÍø, featuring the presidential election, gaming partnerships, and much more.

All Articles Featuring Jason Steffen