Dr. Michael Politano
Associate Professor
Dr. Politano does research in theoretical astrophysics with an emphasis on interacting binary stars. His interests include stellar mergers, common envelope evolution, post-common envelope binary systems, planetary nebulae, brown dwarfs in binary systems, and cataclysmic variable stars. He is currently investigating how many interacting binaries in the disk of our Galaxy merge during a phase of evolution known as the “common envelope” phase. He has had undergraduate students work with him in his research. One of his former undergraduate research assistants, Kevin Weiler, was a co-author on two articles that were published in refereed journals. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium.
In addition to his research in theoretical astrophysics, Dr. Politano has an interest in physics education. He worked on a two-year collaborative project with Prof. Joan Whipp in the College of Education at Marquette to improve physical science education in grades 6-10 in the Milwaukee Public School District. This project involved approximately 20 middle and high school teachers from MPS and was funded by the U.S. Department of Education through a grant from the Wisconsin Improving Teacher Quality Program.
Dr. Politano isa faculty advisor for the physics majors, a pre-major advisor for the College of Arts and Sciences and faculty advisor for the Gay-Straight Alliance. He is also currently serving on the University Faculty Council.
Teaching Fields
- General Physics
- Physics Major Courses
- Astronomy
Office Hours
Teaching Schedule
On Sabbitical Fall,2010 - Spring, 2011.
