Ph.D. - Astronomy
The University of Texas at Austin - 2018
Aaron Smith
Assistant Professor - Physics
Join us in Computational Astrophysics at UTD! Our team pioneers groundbreaking computational tools and theories to tackle key questions in astrophysics and cosmology. Explore the mysteries of high-redshift galaxies and engage in cutting-edge research!
Professional Preparation
B.S. - Physics and Mathematics
Brigham Young University - 2012
Brigham Young University - 2012
Research Areas
Technical Research Summary
A major theme of my research is to understand the nature of the first galaxies and the ensuing cosmic phase transition known as the Epoch of Reionization. I lead the THESAN and THESAN-ZOOMS (www.thesan-project.com) simulation campaigns to produce realistic galaxies and synthetic observations, enabling a more fruitful exploitation of current and forthcoming data. I am the author of the state-of-the-art COLT (colt.readthedocs.io) Monte Carlo radiative transfer and AREPO-MCRT moving-mesh radiation-hydrodynamics codes. My research spans multiple subfields in astrophysics and provides strong synergy with theory and observation.Publications
Lyman-α feedback prevails at Cosmic Dawn: implications for the first galaxies, stars, and star clusters 2025 - Journal Article
Lyman-α feedback prevails at Cosmic Dawn: Implications for the first galaxies, stars, and star clusters 2025 - Journal Article
The thesan project: connecting ionized bubble sizes to their local environments during the Epoch of Reionization 2024 - Journal Article
The thesan project: Connecting ionized bubble sizes to their local environments during the Epoch of Reionization 2024 - Journal Article
The thesan project: public data release of radiation-hydrodynamic simulations matching reionization-era JWST observations 2024 - Journal Article
Awards
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) - The University of Texas at Austin [2014]
Appointments
Assistant Professor, Physics
The University of Texas at Dallas [2023–Present]
The University of Texas at Dallas [2023–Present]
ITC Postdoctoral Fellow
Harvard University [2022–2023]
Harvard University [2022–2023]
NASA Einstein Fellow
Massachusetts Institute of Technology [2018–2022]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology [2018–2022]
News Articles
JWST’s Glimpses of Early Galaxies Could Shed Light on Dark Matter
The THESAN-HR simulations were featured in by Scientific American, exploring how the James Webb Space Telescope might be able to distinguish between competing dark matter models by studying primordial dwarf galaxies.
New Record-Breaking Simulation Sheds Light on ‘Cosmic Dawn’
The THESAN simulations were featured in Scientific American, highlighting the capabilities of the new large-volume cosmological radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of the Epoch of Reionization.