Timothy Cook

Timothy Cook is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Applied Physics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He holds a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Colorado (1991) and has extensive experience in developing space-borne and ground-based instrumentation. His research focuses on ultraviolet instrumentation, sounding rockets, and novel data analysis techniques, particularly for studying astrophysical dust, exoplanetary systems, and interstellar/intergalactic material. Key projects include the PICTURE and IMAGER sounding rockets, the SPINR payload for stellar dust studies, and the SCARI interferometer for interstellar medium analysis. He has led and collaborated on multiple NASA-funded missions and grants, including roles as PI and Co-PI on projects like the CLUE experiment and DWEL lidar system. His work integrates astrophysical observations with advanced optical engineering and remote sensing technologies.

Education:

• PhD in Astrophysics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1991
• BA in Physics, Johns Hopkins University, 1985

Research Interests: Dr. Cook specializes in designing and deploying instruments for space and terrestrial environments. His expertise spans sounding rocket payloads (e.g., PICTURE-B, LITES), ultraviolet spectroscopy, coronagraphy for exoplanet detection, and lidar systems for forest canopy analysis. He also investigates interstellar dust properties and circumgalactic material using novel tomographic and interferometric techniques. His work bridges astrophysical studies with practical engineering solutions for observational challenges.

Grants & Collaborations:

• Principal Investigator for NASA-funded projects like the Interstellar Medium Absorption Gradient Experiment Rocket (2007)
• Co-PI for NSF grants developing the Dual-Wavelength Echidna Lidar (DWEL) for forest biomass studies (2009)
• Contributed to the TERRIERS satellite mission studying Earth’s ionosphere

Labs & Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams at UMass Lowell, NASA, and institutions like Boston University, leveraging expertise in optical instrumentation and data analysis.