Jake Simon

Jake Simon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Astronomy at Iowa State University. His research focuses on planet formation, utilizing advanced computer simulations on supercomputers to study protoplanetary disks and their evolution. He collaborates closely with observational astronomers to test theoretical models. His work addresses critical questions about how planets form, including the roles of turbulence, dust dynamics, and gravitational instabilities.

Research interests include the formation mechanisms of planetesimals, the interplay between streaming instability and dust coagulation, and the impact of magnetic fields and turbulence on disk structures. His studies bridge computational astrophysics with observational data, leveraging simulations to interpret ALMA observations of protoplanetary disks and exoplanetary systems.

Key contributions include analyzing turbulence in disks like DM Tau and IM Lup, exploring vortex-driven protoplanet formation, and investigating conditions for planetesimal formation via the streaming instability. Simon's research group emphasizes state-of-the-art computational methods and interdisciplinary approaches to unravel the origins of planetary systems.

His recent publications (2023–2025) highlight trends in studying turbulence's inhibitory effects on planetesimal formation, the synergy between dust coagulation and gravitational collapse in vortices, and the application of machine learning to astrophysical modeling.

Simon maintains an active lab (Simon Research Group) focused on computational and observational studies of protoplanetary disks. No formal advisees or grants are listed in the provided data.