Jillian Scudder

(she/her/hers)

  • Associate Professor of Physics

Education

  • BA, Macalester College, 2009
  • PhD, University of Victoria, 2014

Biography

My research is aimed at understanding how galaxies change, and what role collisions between galaxies may have played in those changes across cosmic time. I have worked both with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, to study galaxies in the nearby Universe, and with the Herschel Space Observatory, to understand more distant galaxies. I am also very interested in public outreach and science communication, and have been writing for the public since 2013.

Fall 2024

Mechanics and Relativity — PHYS 110
Special Problems in Physics and Astronomy — PHYS 451

Spring 2025

Introductory Astronomy — ASTR 100
Astrophysics I: Stars and Planets — ASTR 301
Special Problems in Physics and Astronomy — PHYS 451

Notes

Jillian Scudder Book Presented at Recent Book Festivals

November 20, 2024

Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Jillian Scudder presented her most recent book, The Milky Way Smells of Rum & Raspberries (Icon Books, 2023) at two book festivals in November; Books by the Banks in Cincinnati November 16, and the Buckeye Book Fair in Wooster on November 2.

Jillian Scudder Interviewed on WWL Radio

September 18, 2024

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder discussed a wide range of astronomical topics in a live, hourlong interview with WWL Radio in Louisiana on September 9.

Jillian Scudder Presents at Conference in Brazil

May 15, 2024

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder contributed a talk on recent and upcoming work, “Conversions between gas-phase metallicities in the nearby Universe,” at the Chemical Abundances in Gaseous Nebulae workshop in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The workshop was hosted by Universidade do Vale do Paraiba.

Jillian Scudder Participates in Ohioana Book Festival

April 24, 2024

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder was a Showcase Author at the Ohioana Book Festival on Saturday, April 20, in support of her astronomy book The Milky Way Smells of Rum & Raspberries (Icon). Scudder was interviewed in advance of the festival by Doug Dangler of WCBE 90.5 FM.

Jillian Scudder Recent Article Published

October 25, 2023

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder published an article in Nautilus, explaining the recent discovery inferring the first observational evidence of a spinning black hole.

Jillian Scudder Gave Annual Bullitt Lecture

October 18, 2023

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder gave the University of Louisville's annual Bullitt Lecture on October 12. The Bullitt Lecture is an invited speaker series aimed at engaging the general public in astronomy. Professor Scudder spoke about her new book, The Milky Way Smells of Rum & Raspberries.

Jillian Scudder Recent Article Published in "Nautilus"

August 8, 2023

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder published "The Shiniest Planet Has Clouds of Metal and Glass" in Nautilus, exploring a recent paper describing a very reflective exoplanet.

Jillian Scudder Book Reviewed by "Foreword Reviews"

August 8, 2023

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder's most recent book, The Milky Way Smells of Rum and Raspberries, was reviewed by Foreword Reviews: "Her explanations of complex information—as about how black holes use jets of fast-moving energy to blow bubbles—are clear, following the step-by-step processes of discovery in easy-to-understand terms. The book’s biggest message is to be amazed, because the universe is an amazing place and its mysteries are endless. Aiming to intrigue general readerships about astrophysics, The Milky Way Smells of Rum and Raspberries is full of the energy and excitement of discovery."

Jillian Scudder Interviewed Live on WWL Radio

August 1, 2023

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder was interviewed live on WWL radio based in New Orleans. The interview was an hour-long spontaneous conversation, and the third time she has been hosted on this program.

Jillian Scudder Article Published in "Nautilus"

June 6, 2023

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder published an article in Nautilus summarizing a new paper discussing the youth of Saturn's rings - "Saturn's Rings Could Be Younger Than Flowers."

Jillian Scudder Interviewed Live on WWL Radio

May 17, 2023

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder was interviewed live on WWL radio for an hour on May 11 about all things space.

Jillian Scudder Book Excerpt Published in "Nautilus Magazine"

March 1, 2023

An excerpt of Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Jillian Scudder's new book, The Milky Way Smells of Rum & Raspberries (Icon Books, Feb 14 2023) was published in Nautilus Magazine.

Jillian Scudder's Upcoming Book Reviewed in "Publisher's Weekly"

December 14, 2022

Jillian Scudder's upcoming book, The Milky Way Smells of Rum & Raspberries, was positively reviewed in Publisher's Weekly: "From Saturn’s slowly decaying rings to diamond rain on Neptune, Scudder delivers entertaining pop science, all explained in accessible prose. Armchair astronomers will come away with a renewed sense of wonder at the strangeness of the universe."

Jillian Scudder Book Finalist for AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize

December 9, 2022

Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Jillian Scudder's book, Astroquizzical: The Illustrated Edition (MIT Press & Icon Books) has been named as one of four finalists for the 2023 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books in the Young Adult Science Book category.

Jillian Scudder Publishes New Book

November 16, 2022

Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Jillian Scudder's new popular science book, The Milky Way Smells of Rum & Raspberries was published in the UK on November 3 by Icon Books. It will be released in the US/Global market on February 14, 2023.

Jillian Scudder Coauthored Publication in "Astrophysical Journal"

November 9, 2022

Associate Professor of Physics Jillian Scudder coauthored a publication in the Astrophysical Journal on galaxies which have undergone a recent burst of star formation, examining the frequency of mergers in combination with where within a galaxy star formation is suppressed.

Jillian Scudder's Recent Book a Candidate for Prize

November 9, 2022

Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Jillian Scudder's recent book, Astroquizzical: The Illustrated Edition (MIT Press) was included in the longlist of eight candidates for the 2023 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books in the Young Adult Science Book category.

Jillian Scudder Receives NSF Grant to Fund Research

September 1, 2022

Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jillian Scudder received an NSF RUI grant of $229,027 to fund her research program understanding galaxies in the nearby universe. This grant was also announced by Senator Sherrod Brown as one of seven grants coming to Northeast Ohio higher-education institutions.

Jillian Scudder authors paper in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

August 13, 2021

Assistant Professor of Physics Jillian Scudder published a first author paper in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society comparing 11 different ways of assessing the fraction of non-hydrogen gas in nearby galaxies. She found variations in how well these methods convert into each other, and determined some of the properties which influence the quality of the conversion. 

Jillian Scudder coauthors publication on large legacy project

May 26, 2021

 

Assistant Professor of Physics Jillian Scudder is a coauthor on a publication describing a large legacy project, aiming to collect and unify overlapping data sets where far-infrared data is present. This project aims to allow easier study of distant galaxies across wavelength.

Jillian Scudder coauthors publication

February 19, 2021

Jillian Scudder coauthored a publication recently accepted by Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, assessing how different methods of calculating the metal content of gas in other galaxies convert into each other.

Jillian Scudder Interviewed

February 11, 2020

Assistant Professor of Physics Jillian Scudder was interviewed about statistical methods in science versus political reporting for the piece "Here's how to read election news like a scientist" published on Live Science.

Jillian Scudder Coauthors Publication

January 24, 2020

Assistant Professor of Physics Jillian Scudder coauthored a publication that appeared in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, which investigated which galaxies form starbursts in their centers in the nearby universe.

Jillian Scudder Coauthors Publication

January 15, 2020

Assistant Professor of Physics Jillian Scudder coauthored a publication that appeared in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, which investigated what properties of a galaxy control its star formation rate.

News

Abby Tejera Rocha ’25 Had an Out-Of-This-World Summer

October 11, 2024

Abby Tejera Rocha ’25 is a physics and computer science double major, with an astrophysics concentration here at Oberlin. This summer, she took her skills up to Massachusetts to do research at MIT. Here, she discusses what led her there, her innovative project, and where she plans to go next.

Building Encouragement for Careers in Science and Technology

November 11, 2022

Abby Tejera Rocha is committed to making a positive impact on society through her educational outreach in STEM areas. Her accomplishments have been recognized by an international tech firm that recruited her to be a developer.