Dr. Mattson 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.
She is currently the Education and Communications Lead for the ASD, managing the day-to-day work of the education and communicaiton team as they create materials to share the science of the ASD with educators, students, and the public. This work includes producing products for informal educators, with an emphasis on curriculum support materials and professional development activities. She was the Deputy Project Lead on the Cosmic Times project, which combines student readings with fundamental science topics to tell the story of how our understanding of the universe has changed over the past century.
Prior to becoming a full-time Education Specialist, 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.
2011
-
Present
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
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
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. 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. 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.
Dr. Mattson 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.
She is currently the Education and Communications Lead for the ASD, managing the day-to-day work of the education and communicaiton team as they create materials to share the science of the ASD with educators, students, and the public. This work includes producing products for informal educators, with an emphasis on curriculum support materials and professional development activities. She was the Deputy Project Lead on the Cosmic Times project, which combines student readings with fundamental science topics to tell the story of how our understanding of the universe has changed over the past century.
Prior to becoming a full-time Education Specialist, 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.
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. 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. 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
