David Koo

Professor, Astronomy & Astrophysics

Faint surveys of galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGN) continue to be the primary focus of my research in observational cosmology. Besides using the Keck Telescopes to obtain deep spectroscopic surveys (e.g., DEEP2 & DEEP3) of the distant universe, my research also exploits the exquisite optical and near-infrared images from the Hubble Space Telescope (e.g. CANDELS) as well as complementary panchromatic (multiwavelength) imaging ranging from the X-ray using Chandra in space to the radio using the VLA from the ground (see AEGIS program). The science goals are to answer the basic questions of 1) how did galaxies acquire their stars, gas properties, dust, and morphologies? 2) what has been and explains their evolution in star formation, supermassive black hole growth, infall and outflow of gas, chemical abundances, and development and assembly of galactic structures such as bulges, disks, bars, clumps, and halos? and 3) can we explain what we observe with the most advanced theoretical simulations?

Academic Bio
PhD UC Berkeley 1981
Carnegie Fellowship and Associate Research Position, Carnegie institution of Washington-DTM, 1981-1986
Space Telescope Science Institute Fellowship, STScI, 1986-1987
Assistant Astronomer and WFPC2 Instrument Scientist, STScI, 1987
Astronomer/Professor UCO/Lick Observatory UCSC, 1988-Present

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