Rowan Smith

Dr. Rowan Smith is a Lecturer in Astrophysics and Researcher at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews. His research focuses on star formation, interstellar medium dynamics, and galactic structure. He has supervised PhD student Zoe Faes and contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications.

His research interests include molecular gas conditions, magnetic fields in space, and the formation of high-mass stars. He has conducted studies on CO isotopologue analysis, interstellar flows, and 3D dust reconstruction using deep learning. His work often explores topics like molecular cloud evolution, galactic center dynamics, and the role of turbulence in star formation.

Key contributions include analyzing the CO-to-H₂ conversion factors in M51, studying star formation in CO-dark dwarf galaxies, and investigating magnetic field interactions in star-forming cores. He has also developed computational models to study molecular cloud structure and interstellar medium properties.

Dr. Smith collaborates internationally on projects like the PHANGS-JWST survey and the Cloud Factory simulations. His research bridges observational astronomy with advanced computational techniques, addressing fundamental questions about galaxy evolution and stellar formation processes.