Glenn Piner

Professor Glenn Piner is a Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Whittier College. He holds a Ph.D., M.S., and dual B.S. degrees in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Maryland. His research focuses on radio astronomy of quasars, blazars, and active galactic nuclei (AGNs), utilizing Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). He actively involves undergraduate students in his research, supported by grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation. Piner teaches a range of physics courses and an astronomy sequence for non-majors. His work includes collaborations on space-based radio astronomy projects such as the Japanese VSOP mission and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's initiatives.

Education

• Ph.D. in Astronomy, University of Maryland, 1998
• M.S. in Astronomy, University of Maryland, 1995
• B.S. in Astronomy and Physics, University of Maryland, 1991

Research Interests

• Radio properties of quasars and blazars
• Jet dynamics and acceleration mechanisms in AGNs
• VLBI techniques and data analysis

Grants & Collaborations

• Funded by NASA and NSF for quasar research
• Postdoctoral collaboration with the Caltech/JPL VSOP project

Labs & Teams Research utilizes the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA).