Teaching Areas:  Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology, Life in the Universe

Service: American Astronomical Society (AAS)

    Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (CSWA)

    AASWomen, Co-Editor

Research Areas:  Theoretical and Numerical

I am interested in dynamical motions within accretion disks to explain the observational data.  Examples include causes to negative superhumps (i.e., a hump-shaped modulation in light curves that have a period that is slightly less than the orbital period), retrograde precession, disk tilt, density waves, and jet, planetesmial, and planet formation.  I am also interested in finding planets, especially those in accretion disks.  I use hydrodynamical numerical simulations, theory, and observations.

                                  Observational

I currently have one proposal in to study debris disks with collaborators...stay tuned.

                                  Undergraduate Student Research

Currently I have two undergraduate physics students, who are both recipients of an NSF UCF Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP) grants.  Nicholas Howell’s research on effects from high mass transfer rates to accretion disks around white dwarfs is scheduled to be published in 2013.  Adelaide Baker’s research will be on simulating a bounce-back Cataclysmic Variable system. 

                                 Educational

Project 1:   Astronomy Textbooks

                  - Horizons Hybrid:  Exploring the Universe by Seeds, Backman, &

                    Montgomery (2015)

                  - Universe Hybrid:  Solar System, Stars, and Galaxies by Seeds, Backman,

                    & Montgomery (2015)

Project 2:  Women in Physics Workshop

                 APS:  http://www.aps.org/programs/women/workshops/cuwip.cfm

                 Southeastern Section:  http://physics.cos.ucf.edu/scuwp/

Project 3:  Astrobiology/Life in the Universe Education Connection

                 This project is still in prep ... stay tuned

Contact Information for Michele M. Montgomery, Ph.D

University of Central Florida (UCF)

Physics Department PS 132

Orlando, FL  32816

Office:  407-823-5939

Fax:     407-823-5112

                    montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu

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