Richard Plotkin

Richard Plotkin is Associate Professor and Physics Graduate Admissions Director at University of Nevada, Reno, specializing in accreting black holes across mass scales. His multiwavelength research probes accretion flows, relativistic jets, and black hole populations.

Education: Ph.D. Astronomy (University of Washington, 2009), M.S. Astronomy (2004), B.S. Astronomy/Physics (University of Michigan, 2003). Investigates quiescent black hole binaries, low-luminosity AGN, and X-ray source populations.

Research uses space/ground telescopes to study disk-jet coupling and accretion physics. Recent JWST work reveals outflows in quiescent black holes, while radio studies examine jet variability. Publications demonstrate expertise in black hole accretion states across stellar-mass to supermassive systems.

Teaches astrophysics courses and directs graduate admissions. Leads studies of changing-look quasars and dwarf galaxy black holes through major telescope allocations.