Jenna Cann studies active galactic nuclei in dwarf and low metallicity galaxies, with both theoretical and observational projects. They use the photoionization code, Cloudy, to simulate the emission from black holes of various masses (particularly those in the intermediate mass range; 100 - 10,000 MSun) to determine the best diagnostics to find black holes in extreme environments. She also uses data from Keck and Gemini to assess the efficacy of these diagnostics.
Jenna Cann
(POST DOC)
| Email: | jenna.cann@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.286.1111 |
| Org Code: | 662 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 662 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE CO |
Brief Bio
Positions/Employment
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
George Mason University - Fairfax, VA
August 2017 - May 2021
Dissertation: Local Relics - The Hunt for Intermediate Mass Black Holes
Advisor: Shobita Satyapal
NASA Postdoctoral Fellow
Universities Space Research Association - NASA Goddard, Greenbelt, MD
June 2021 - June 2024
XMM-Newton Guest Observer Facility (GOF) Scientist
CRESST II/UMBC - NASA Goddard, Greenbelt, MD
July 2024 - Present
Education
PhD in Physics - George Mason University (2021)
B.S. in Astronomy - George Mason University (2017)
A.S. in Math - Northern Virginia Community College (2013)
Professional Service
Leadership, AGN Science Interest Group (Cosmic Origins)
NGAPS+ co-officer (Advocacy, DEIA subcommittees)
Co-founder of Spectrum, DEIA club and mentoring program at George Mason University Department of Physics
Co-lead Early Career Working Group, NASA SMD Bridge Program Workshop (Fall 2022)
Awards
2022 ASD Peer Award (NASA Goddard Astrophysics Science Division, July 2022)
Dean's Award for Excellence in Service (George Mason University, May 2021)
Outstanding Physics PhD Dissertation (George Mason University, May 2021)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (NSF GRFP, Sept 2017 - May 2021)
Dean's Award for Excellence (George Mason University, April 2019)
Selected Publications
Refereed
2024. "Exploring X-Ray Properties of Low-metallicity Dwarf Galaxies." The Astrophysical Journal 961 (2): 178 [10.3847/1538-4357/ad0a6b] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Relics of Supermassive Black Hole Seeds: The Discovery of an Accreting Black Hole in an Optically Normal, Low Metallicity Dwarf Galaxy." The Astrophysical Journal Letters 912 (1): L2 [10.3847/2041-8213/abf56d] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "The Diagnostic Potential of JWST in Characterizing Elusive AGNs." The Astrophysical Journal 906 (1): 35 [10.3847/1538-4357/abbfaf] [Journal Article/Letter]
2020. "Multiwavelength Observations of SDSS J105621.45+313822.1, a Broad-line, Low-metallicity AGN." The Astrophysical Journal 895 (2): 147 [10.3847/1538-4357/ab8b64] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "A Triple AGN in a Mid-infrared Selected Late-stage Galaxy Merger." The Astrophysical Journal 883 (2): 167 [10.3847/1538-4357/ab3a9b] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "Buried Black Hole Growth in IR-selected Mergers: New Results from Chandra." The Astrophysical Journal 875 (2): 117 [10.3847/1538-4357/ab07bc] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "The Limitations of Optical Spectroscopic Diagnostics in Identifying Active Galactic Nuclei in the Low-mass Regime." The Astrophysical Journal 870 (1): L2 [10.3847/2041-8213/aaf88d] [Journal Article/Letter]
2018. "The Hunt for Intermediate-mass Black Holes in the JWST Era." The Astrophysical Journal 861 (2): 142 [10.3847/1538-4357/aac64a] [Journal Article/Letter]