Alison Crocker

Alison Crocker is the A.A. Knowlton Professor of Physics at Reed College, affiliated with the Physics Department and the Division of Mathematical and Natural Sciences. She specializes in astrophysics, focusing on star formation processes in nearby galaxies and the interplay between molecular gas and stellar environments. Dr. Crocker holds a DPhil in astrophysics from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, with postdoctoral training at the University of Massachusetts and the University of Toledo. She joined Reed College in 2014 and teaches courses in astrophysics while leading a weekly astronomy discussion group.

• Education:
  • Bachelor's in Physics and Mathematics, Dartmouth College
  • DPhil in Astrophysics, University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholar)
• Research Interests: Neutral carbon line emission analysis using Herschel data, molecular gas dynamics, interstellar medium interactions, and galaxy evolution.

Her research bridges observational astronomy with theoretical models, emphasizing the connection between galactic gas properties and stellar formation efficiency. She oversees the Reed College telescope, fostering student engagement in observational astronomy. Recent work explores UV emission mechanisms and molecular gas ratios in early-type galaxies, contributing to understanding galaxy evolution across cosmic time.