Niel Brandt

Niel Brandt, State College 2015

Niel Brandt is a prominent American astrophysicist known for his significant contributions to the field of X-ray astronomy and the study of active galactic nuclei (AGN). He is a professor at Pennsylvania State University and has been recognized for his extensive research on the X-ray properties of quasars and other high-energy astrophysical phenomena.

Early Life and Education

Niel Brandt was born in the United States. He developed an interest in astronomy at a young age. Brandt pursued his undergraduate studies at Caltech, where he earned a B.S. in Physics. He then went on to complete his Ph.D. in Astronomy at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Brandt held a postdoctoral position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He later joined the faculty at Pennsylvania State University, where he has been a professor since year. Brandt's research primarily focuses on the study of X-ray emissions from quasars, AGN, and other high-energy sources in the universe. He has been involved in numerous observational campaigns using space-based X-ray observatories such as the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the XMM-Newton.

Research Contributions

Niel Brandt has made several key contributions to the field of X-ray astronomy. His work has provided insights into the nature of supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies and the mechanisms driving their high-energy emissions. Some of his notable research areas include:

• The study of X-ray variability in quasars and AGN.
• Investigations into the X-ray properties of high-redshift quasars.
• The role of X-ray observations in understanding the cosmic evolution of supermassive black holes.

Awards and Honors

Brandt has received several awards and honors for his contributions to astrophysics, including:

• The Bruno Rossi Prize from the American Astronomical Society.
• The Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy.
• Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Personal Life

Niel Brandt resides in State College, Pennsylvania, where he continues his research and teaching at Pennsylvania State University. He is married and has number children.

See Also

• X-ray astronomy
• Active galactic nucleus
• Quasar
• Supermassive black hole
• Chandra X-ray Observatory
• XMM-Newton