Zachariah Etienne

Zachariah Etienne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Idaho, where he conducts cutting-edge research in Numerical Relativity and Gravitational Wave Astronomy. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Illinois (2009) and dual BS degrees in Mathematics and Physics from Indiana University (2003). Etienne is actively involved in developing computational tools like NRPy+ and GRoovy to enhance simulations of compact binary systems and relativistic astrophysics phenomena.

• Education
  • PhD, Physics, University of Illinois (2009)
  • BS, Mathematics, Indiana University (2003)
  • BS, Physics, Indiana University (2003)

His research spans Numerical Relativity, General Relativity, and High-Performance Computing, with a focus on gravitational wave sources such as binary black holes, neutron star mergers, and direct collapse black holes. Etienne has contributed to the Einstein Toolkit ecosystem and projects like BlackHoles@Home, which aim to democratize access to numerical relativity simulations through open-source frameworks and consumer-grade hardware.

Etienne’s work emphasizes code development, algorithmic efficiency, and collaborative research in numerical relativity. Projects like NRPyElliptic and superB highlight his efforts in solving elliptic equations and simulating high mass ratio black hole binaries, while his studies on debris disks and bar-mode instabilities explore astrophysical phenomena through computational models.