Assistant
Professor 
Dr. Politano does theoretical research involving interacting binary stars. He has interests in cataclysmic variable stars (CVs), brown dwarfs in binary systems, common envelope evolution, post-common envelope binary systems and stellar mergers. His research involves calculating model populations of specific classes of interacting binaries, such as CVs, and comparing these model populations with observations. His research is currently funded by NASA through a grant from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium and by the National Science Foundation. He has supported undergraduate students to work with him in his research. His most recent student, Kevin Weiler, is a co-author on two refereed publications in the Astrophysical Journal. His current student, Mike Heim, is working on a project involving binary star evolution models.
In addition to his research in theoretical astrophysics, Dr. Politano has an interest in physics education. He completed a two-year collaborative project with Dr. Joan Whipp in the School 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 is one of the faculty advisors for the physics majors.
Teaching Fields
- General Physics
- Physics Major Courses
- Astronomy
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