Matthew Newby

Matthew Newby is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Physics at Temple University. He focuses on astronomy, astrophysics, and the history of science, with a strong emphasis on integrating computational skills into undergraduate and graduate education. His research explores the dynamics and structure of the Milky Way galaxy, leveraging data from projects like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the MilkyWay@home distributed computing initiative. Newby also contributed to Temple’s Data Science program and restructured its computational physics curriculum, while leading graduate-level computing workshops and participating in the High-Performance Computing for Scientific Applications Master’s Program.

His research interests span galactic substructures—including tidal tails of dwarf galaxies, stellar halo dynamics, and dark matter distribution—as well as Renaissance-era astronomical studies, such as analyzing 15th-century astronomical paintings. Newby’s work bridges computational methods with observational astrophysics, emphasizing interdisciplinary problem-solving and active learning in education. He has published on topics like Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy streams, metallicity distribution functions, and Milky Way substructure modeling.

Newby’s educational contributions include fostering data literacy, organizing computational workshops, and developing curricula that blend professional development with ethical considerations. His current involvement in Temple’s HPC program underscores his commitment to advancing computational tools for scientific research.