Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Research Interests
Dark matter; (Merging) galaxy clusters; Weak gravitational lensing; X-ray astronomy; Optical astronomy; Large scale structure in the universe
Education
University of California Davis
Davis, CA
2007-Present
Masters of Physics (2008)
Doctor of Philosophy (expected 2013)
Advisor: DAVID WITTMAN
Thesis Title: Constraining Dark Matter Through the Study of Large Scale Structures
University of Texas
Austin, TX
2006-2007
Undergraduate studies in physics.
Texas A&M University
Galveston, TX
2000-2002
B.Sc., Maritime Systems Engineering
Davis, CA
2007-Present
Masters of Physics (2008)
Doctor of Philosophy (expected 2013)
Advisor: DAVID WITTMAN
Thesis Title: Constraining Dark Matter Through the Study of Large Scale Structures
University of Texas
Austin, TX
2006-2007
Undergraduate studies in physics.
Texas A&M University
Galveston, TX
2000-2002
B.Sc., Maritime Systems Engineering
Research/Work Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
University of California at Davis
2008-Present
Investigating the properties of dark matter by using the techniques of weak gravitational lensing, X-ray astronomy, galaxy photometry & spectroscopy, and the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect to study large scale structures in the Deep Lens Survey.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of Texas at Austin
2006-2007
Involved with the Cryogenic Low Energy Astrophysics Noble gases (CLEAN) dark matter detection experiment.
Senior Engineering Specialist
Technip
2002-2006
Experience in projects performing offshore structural design and engineering.
University of California at Davis
2008-Present
Investigating the properties of dark matter by using the techniques of weak gravitational lensing, X-ray astronomy, galaxy photometry & spectroscopy, and the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect to study large scale structures in the Deep Lens Survey.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of Texas at Austin
2006-2007
Involved with the Cryogenic Low Energy Astrophysics Noble gases (CLEAN) dark matter detection experiment.
Senior Engineering Specialist
Technip
2002-2006
Experience in projects performing offshore structural design and engineering.
Teaching Experience
Physics 10 TA
University of California at Davis
Fall 2009
Special and General Relativity for life sciences majors. Designing and teaching the discussion labs.
Physics 7C TA
University of California at Davis
Spring 2008
Waves, optics, electricity & magnetism, and modern physics for biological science majors.
Physics 7A TA
University of California at Davis
Fall 2007, Winter 2008
Conservation of energy, particle model of matter, and thermodynamics for biological science majors.
What my students have to say.
University of California at Davis
Fall 2009
Special and General Relativity for life sciences majors. Designing and teaching the discussion labs.
Physics 7C TA
University of California at Davis
Spring 2008
Waves, optics, electricity & magnetism, and modern physics for biological science majors.
Physics 7A TA
University of California at Davis
Fall 2007, Winter 2008
Conservation of energy, particle model of matter, and thermodynamics for biological science majors.
What my students have to say.
Fellowships, Grants, & Awards
- UC HiPACC Grant, "UC Davis-Irvine Merging Cluster Collaboration", 2012-2014, $20,000 ($10,000 pending)
- Professors for the Future Fellow, UC Davis 2012, $3,000
- UC Davis Graduate Program Fellowship, summer 2012, $5,000
- UC Davis Graduate Program Fellowship, spring 2012, $6,000
- UC Davis Graduate Program Fellowship, fall 2011, $6,000
- Chandra Cycle 12 GO-12800854, 2010 "DLSCL J0916+2953: A New Transverse Cluster Merger", ~$30,000
- Hubble Space Telescope Cycle 18 GO-12377, 2010 "DLSCL J0916+2953: A New Transverse Cluster Merger", ~$51,000
- Jacques Franquelin Award, Technip 2006
- A prestigious internal company award honoring those “who through their spirit of initiative, their creativity, or their sense of innovation and cooperation within the Group, contribute to the dynamism and development of Technip.”
- ~20 are awarded amongst ~20,000 employees each year
Accepted Proposals
- UC HiPACC Grant, "UC Davis-Irvine Merging Cluster Collaboration", PI, $20,000 ($10,000 pending)
- Keck DEIMOS, 2012B "Star Formation in Merging Clusters: Boom or Bust?", Co-PI
- WSRT, 2012B "A Search for Radio Relics in the Musket Ball Cluster", Co-I
- CARMA SZA c0679, 2011A "DLSCL J0916+2953: A New Transverse Cluster Merger", PI
- Keck DEIMOS, 2011A "DLSCL J0916+2953: A New Transverse Cluster Merger", Co-PI
- KPNO MOSAIC, 2011 "Medium-band imaging of a z=0.53 merging cluster ", Co-I
- CTIO NEWFIRM, 2011 "A Near Infrared View Of The Deep Lens Survey ", Co-I
- Chandra Cycle 12 GO-12800854, 2010 "DLSCL J0916+2953: A New Transverse Cluster Merger", PI, ~$30,000
- HST Cycle 18 GO-12377, 2010 "DLSCL J0916+2953: A New Transverse Cluster Merger", PI, ~$51,000
Invited Talks
- Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology
Stanford, California
06/22/2012
The Dynamics of Dissociative Cluster Mergers: Bullet & Musket Ball Clusters - Department of Mathematics, University of California
Davis, California
02/22/2012
Discovery of a Dissociative Galaxy Cluster Merger with Large Physics Separation - Department of Physics, Rutgers University
Rutgers, New Jersey
02/09/2011
Gravitational Weak Lensing Tomography and Examples of its Application
Professional Activities
- Organizer for the Cosmology in Northern California (CINC) 2011 conference at UC Davis.
Publications
- Wittman, D., & Dawson, W.A., 2012. Constraining Source Redshift Distributions with Gravitational Lensing. Submitted ApJ.
- Dawson, W.A. et al., 2011. Discovery of a Dissociative Galaxy Cluster Merger with Large Physical Separation, 2012, ApJ 747 L42
References
- Dr. David Wittman 530 754 5354 (thesis advisor)
- Dr. Tony Tyson 530 752 3830
- Dr. John P. (Jack) Hughes 732 445 5500 x 0980
William A Dawson
Department of Physics
One Shields Av.
Davis, CA 95616-8677
wadawson@ucdavis.edu
