John Cowan

Education

B.A. George Washington University (1970)

M.S. Case Western Reserve University (1972)

Ph.D. University of Maryland (1976)

Bio

I am an emeritus professor in astronomy and astrophysics. While I am no longer teaching or advising students, I am continuing my research studies.

Most all of the elements are produced in stars. My work involves understanding the origin of those elements, particularly the heaviest, in nature. I have focused on determining and explaining the abundances of the heavy elements observed in the oldest stars in our Galaxy and the Universe.

Featured Publications

• "The R-Process Alliance: Abundance Universality among Some Elements at and between the First and Second R-Process Peaks", I. U. Roederer et al., ApJ, 936, 84, (2022)


• "Origin of the heaviest elements: The rapid neutron-capture process", J. J. Cowan et al., Rev. Mod. Phys., 93, 015002, (2021)


• "Detailed Iron-peak Element Abundances in Three Very Metal-poor Stars", J. J. Cowan et al., ApJ, 890, 119, (2020)

Awards & Honors

• General Education Teaching Award (2009)
• Kinney-Sugg Outstanding Professor Award in the College of Arts and Sciences (2004)
• David Ross Boyd Professorship (2002 - present)
• Samuel R. Noble Presidential Professorship (1998 - 2002)
• Regents' Award for Superior Teaching (1991)
• Regents' Award for Superior Research & Creative Activity (1990)
• Good Teaching Award
• AMOCO FAtA