Expand sub-menus

Barbara J Mattson (she/hers)

Photo of BARBARA MATTSON (SHE/HERS)

Barbara J Mattson (she/hers)

  • RESEARCH SCIENTIST
  • 301.286.1243
  • NASA/GSFC
  • Mail Code: 661
  • Greenbelt , MD 20771
  • Employer: UNIV OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK

    • Brief Bio

    Dr. Mattson is currently the Astrophysics Communications Scientist for the ASD, managing the day-to-day work of the communications team as they create news features, social media posts, and multimedia products.


    She joined the Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) as a graduate student in 1998 working with the X-ray calorimeter instrumentation team. Since then, she has conducted research on supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies in pursuit of her PhD while seeking opportunities to share astronomy with students and educators.


    Prior to moving into full-time communications, Dr. Mattson's research concentrated on spectroscopy of active galactic nuclei, studying the emission of X-rays from very near the supermassive black holes at the centers of certain galaxies. Dr. Mattson earned her Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Maryland, which she pursued part-time while working as a support scientist. She entered graduate school as a High Energy Astrophysics Fellow, a joint fellowship between the University of Maryland and Goddard’s Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics. Throughout her career, Dr. Mattson has had a strong interest in translating astronomy for a variety of non-professional audiences, starting in her senior undergraduate year as a volunteer astronomer for Project-ASTRO in New Mexico and continuing today as a professional education specialist.

    Positions/Employment

    2011 - 2017

    Associate Research Scientist

    USRA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greeenbelt, MD  
    2001 - 2011

    Support Scientist

    ADNET Systems, Inc., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD  
    2000 - 2008

    Graduate Research Assistant

    University of Maryland, College Park, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD  
    2017 - Present

    Principal Faculty Specialist

    University of Maryland, College Park, Greenbelt, MD

    Education

    2008 PhD, Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
    Thesis: "An X-Ray Spectral Database for AGN Using a Decade of RXTE Seyfert"
    Advisors Kimberly Weaver and Chris Reynolds

    2001 MSci, Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

    1998 BSci, Physics with the Astrophysics Option, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM, 1998

    1998 BSci, Mathematics, New Mexico Tech, NM, 1998

    Publications

    Refereed

    Mattson, B. J., K. A. Weaver, and C. S. Reynolds. 2007. "Possible X-Ray Diagnostic for Jet/Disk Dominance in Type 1 AGNs." The Astrophysical Journal, 664: 101 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/518783]

    Gehrels, N., G. Chincarini, P. Giommi, et al. K. O. Mason, J. A. Nousek, A. A. Wells, N. E. White, S. D. Barthelmy, D. N. Burrows, L. R. Cominsky, K. C. Hurley, F. E. Marshall, P. Mészáros, P. W. Roming, L. Angelini, L. M. Barbier, T. Belloni, S. Campana, P. A. Caraveo, M. M. Chester, O. Citterio, T. L. Cline, M. S. Cropper, J. R. Cummings, A. J. Dean, E. D. Feigelson, E. E. Fenimore, D. A. Frail, A. S. Fruchter, G. P. Garmire, K. Gendreau, G. Ghisellini, J. Greiner, J. E. Hill, S. D. Hunsberger, H. A. Krimm, S. R. Kulkarni, P. Kumar, F. Lebrun, N. M. Lloyd-Ronning, C. B. Markwardt, B. J. Mattson, R. F. Mushotzky, J. P. Norris, J. Osborne, B. Paczynski, D. M. Palmer, H. Park, A. M. Parsons, J. Paul, M. J. Rees, C. S. Reynolds, J. E. Rhoads, T. P. Sasseen, B. E. Schaefer, A. T. Short, A. P. Smale, I. A. Smith, L. Stella, G. Tagliaferri, T. Takahashi, M. Tashiro, L. K. Townsley, J. Tueller, M. J. Turner, M. Vietri, W. Voges, M. J. Ward, R. Willingale, F. M. Zerbi, and W. W. Zhang. 2004. "The Swift Gamma‐Ray Burst Mission." The Astrophysical Journal, 611 (2): 1005-1020 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/422091]

    Gehrels, N., C. M. Laird, C. H. Jackman, et al. J. K. Cannizzo, B. J. Mattson, and W. Chen. 2003. "Ozone Depletion from Nearby Supernovae." Astrophys. J., 585: 1169-1176.

    Non-Refereed

    Mattson, B. J. 2012. "Bring NASA astrophysics into your science, math, and humanities classroom." New Jersey Education Association Review 86 (3): 12-15.

    Brief Bio

    Dr. Mattson is currently the Astrophysics Communications Scientist for the ASD, managing the day-to-day work of the communications team as they create news features, social media posts, and multimedia products.


    She joined the Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) as a graduate student in 1998 working with the X-ray calorimeter instrumentation team. Since then, she has conducted research on supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies in pursuit of her PhD while seeking opportunities to share astronomy with students and educators.


    Prior to moving into full-time communications, Dr. Mattson's research concentrated on spectroscopy of active galactic nuclei, studying the emission of X-rays from very near the supermassive black holes at the centers of certain galaxies. Dr. Mattson earned her Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Maryland, which she pursued part-time while working as a support scientist. She entered graduate school as a High Energy Astrophysics Fellow, a joint fellowship between the University of Maryland and Goddard’s Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics. Throughout her career, Dr. Mattson has had a strong interest in translating astronomy for a variety of non-professional audiences, starting in her senior undergraduate year as a volunteer astronomer for Project-ASTRO in New Mexico and continuing today as a professional education specialist.

    Publications

    Refereed

    Mattson, B. J., K. A. Weaver, and C. S. Reynolds. 2007. "Possible X-Ray Diagnostic for Jet/Disk Dominance in Type 1 AGNs." The Astrophysical Journal 664 101 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/518783]

    Gehrels, N., G. Chincarini, P. Giommi, et al. K. O. Mason, J. A. Nousek, A. A. Wells, N. E. White, S. D. Barthelmy, D. N. Burrows, L. R. Cominsky, K. C. Hurley, F. E. Marshall, P. Mészáros, P. W. Roming, L. Angelini, L. M. Barbier, T. Belloni, S. Campana, P. A. Caraveo, M. M. Chester, O. Citterio, T. L. Cline, M. S. Cropper, J. R. Cummings, A. J. Dean, E. D. Feigelson, E. E. Fenimore, D. A. Frail, A. S. Fruchter, G. P. Garmire, K. Gendreau, G. Ghisellini, J. Greiner, J. E. Hill, S. D. Hunsberger, H. A. Krimm, S. R. Kulkarni, P. Kumar, F. Lebrun, N. M. Lloyd-Ronning, C. B. Markwardt, B. J. Mattson, R. F. Mushotzky, J. P. Norris, J. Osborne, B. Paczynski, D. M. Palmer, H. Park, A. M. Parsons, J. Paul, M. J. Rees, C. S. Reynolds, J. E. Rhoads, T. P. Sasseen, B. E. Schaefer, A. T. Short, A. P. Smale, I. A. Smith, L. Stella, G. Tagliaferri, T. Takahashi, M. Tashiro, L. K. Townsley, J. Tueller, M. J. Turner, M. Vietri, W. Voges, M. J. Ward, R. Willingale, F. M. Zerbi, and W. W. Zhang. 2004. "The Swift Gamma‐Ray Burst Mission." The Astrophysical Journal 611 (2): 1005-1020 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/422091]

    Gehrels, N., C. M. Laird, C. H. Jackman, et al. J. K. Cannizzo, B. J. Mattson, and W. Chen. 2003. "Ozone Depletion from Nearby Supernovae." Astrophys. J. 585 1169-1176

    Non-Refereed

    Mattson, B. J. 2012. "Bring NASA astrophysics into your science, math, and humanities classroom." New Jersey Education Association Review 86 (3): 12-15

                                                                                                                                                                                            
    NASA Logo, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    • NASA Official:
    • Curator:
    • Last Updated: 03/29/2023