Patrick Brian Hall

Patrick Brian Hall is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at York University, Canada, within the Faculty of Science. He has been serving as Department Chair since July 2020 through December 2024. Currently on sabbatical from January 1 to December 31, 2025, he will be teaching PHYS 4270/5390 - Astronomical Techniques during the Winter 2025-2026 term.

• Full Professor at York University (July 2016 - present)
• Department Chair (July 2020 - December 2024)
• Undergraduate Program Director for Physics & Astronomy (July 2014-2017, July 2019-2020)
• Associate Professor (July 2009-2016)
• Assistant Professor (July 2004-2009)

Dr. Hall's research primarily focuses on astrophysics, particularly the study of quasars, active galactic nuclei, black holes, and cosmology. His work involves spectroscopic analysis of quasar outflows, reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei, and participation in major astronomical surveys such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). He has made significant contributions to understanding the physics of quasar winds and outflows, particularly those with extremely high velocities.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on the SDSS-V Black Hole Mapper program, where he investigates the dynamics of broad absorption line quasars, reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei, and the properties of quasar outflows. His research combines observational data with theoretical modeling to understand the complex physics of accretion disks and outflows around supermassive black holes, with particular attention to wind acceleration and deceleration phenomena.

• NSERC Discovery Grant: The Physics of Quasars and Quasar Winds: Spectroscopy from SDSS-V and Beyond (2024-2028)
• NSERC Discovery Grant: Constraining the Properties of Quasars and their Outflows Using Variability (2017-2023)
• Ontario Early Researcher Award: Outflows from disks of matter orbiting supermassive black holes (2009-2014)

Dr. Hall has mentored numerous students through his research projects and has been instrumental in developing opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in cutting-edge astronomical research. His leadership in major astronomical surveys has provided valuable research experiences for students in observational astronomy and astrophysics.

He maintains active collaborations with international astronomical teams and continues to contribute significantly to our understanding of active galactic nuclei and their role in galaxy evolution through his participation in projects like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and AGN STORM 2.