William Herbst

Professor of Astronomy, Wesleyan University

I am a professional astronomer and John Monroe Van Vleck Professor of Astronomy at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, where I have been employed since 1978. My research interests are in the field of star and planet formation. My Ph.D. thesis work at the University of Toronto involved a study of stars in southern reflection nebulae and led to the discovery of a good example of supernova-induced star formation -- an association of reflection nebulae known as CMa R1. This is of particular interest because isotopic evidence in meteorites suggests that radioactive material from a nearby supernova was present in our own solar system as the planets were forming. Most of this work was done while I was a Carnegie Fellow at the Carnegie Institution of Washington’s Department of Terrestrial Magnetism in collaboration with George Assousa. Two papers that report this work for professional and semi-professional audiences are:

Experience

–present

Professor of Astronomy, Wesleyan University
1976–1978

Postdoctoral fellow, Carnegie Institution DTM
1974–1976

Postdoctoral fellow, York University CRESS

Education

1974

Ph.D., University of Toronto
1970

AB (Astrophysics), Princeton University

Grants and Contracts

2016

A New Model for Chondrule Formation

Role:

co-PI with J. Greenwood

Funding Source:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration