Biography
Dr. Colwell received his B.S. in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from Stetson University and a Ph.D. in Astrophysical, Planetary and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has been on the faculty at UCF since 2006 and is a Pegasus Professor and the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Sciences.
Research Areas
I study the origin and evolution of the solar system and in particular small bodies such as planetary rings, asteroids, comets, dust, and small moons. I was a Co-Investigator on the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) on the Cassini spacecraft. I analyze observations of Saturn’s rings made by Cassini UVIS and model the structure and evolution of the rings. I design, build, and operate microgravity experiments to study the early stages of planet formation, the surfaces of small asteroids and moons, and the collisional evolution of planetary rings in the Stephen W. Hawking Center for Microgravity Research and Education.
Research Opportunities for Students
Information on requirements:
Currently accepting:
Graduate: I’m open to discussing research opportunities with students interested in analyzing the structure and evolution of Saturn’s rings, including numerical modeling of the rings.
Undergraduate: I will supervise undergraduate students in directed research courses studying Saturn’s rings or doing experimental research and data analysis in the Hawking Center. Paid opportunities for students may be available for students in both areas. For work in the Hawking Center, experience with CAD or electrical circuit design and microcontroller programming is preferred. For work on Saturn’s rings, experience in scientific programming is preferred.
Publications
- Green, M. R., J. E. Colwell, L. W. Esposito, R. G. Jerousek 2024. Particle sizes in Saturn’s rings from UVIS stellar occultations 2. Outlier populatinos in the C ring and Cassini Division. Icarus Vol TBD, 116081.
- Jerousek, R. G., J. E. Colwell, L. W. Esposito, M. S. Tiscareno, M. C. Lewis, L. Pohl, D. A. Benavides 2024. The smallest structures in Saturn’s rings from UVIS stellar occultations. Icarus 415, 116069.
- Sega, D. D., G. Stewart, J. E. Colwell, G. M. Duvvuri, R. Jerousek, L. Esposito 2024. The dynamics of self-gravity wakes in the Mimas 5:3 bending wave: Modifying the linear theory. Icarus 413, 115987.
- Bradley, E. T., J. E. Colwell, L. W. Esposito 2024. Retrieval of Albedo and Compositional Properties of Saturn’s Rings from Cassini UVIS Spectra. Icarus (submitted).
- French, R. G., P. D. Nicholson, C. A. McGhee-French, P.-Y. Longarettie, M. M. Hedman, J. Colwell, E. A. Marouf, N. Rappaport, S. Flury, J. Fong 2023. The complex shape of the outer edge of Saturn’s B ring, as observed in Cassini occultation data. Icarus 405, 115678, doi;10.1016/j.icarus.2023.115678.
- Nicholson, P. D., R. G. French, C. A. McGhee-French, P.-Y. Longaretti, M. M. Hedman, M. El Moutamid, J. Colwell, E. A. Marouf, N. Rappaport, S. Flury, J. Fong, R. Maguire, G. Steranka 2023. The Seven-lobed Shape of the Outer Edge of Saturn’s A Ring. Icarus 390, 115287, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115287.
- Jarmak, S. G., T. M. Becker, J. E. Colwell, R. G. Jerousek, L. W. Esposito 2022. Solar Occultation Observations of Saturn’s Rings with Cassini UVIS. Icarus 388, 115237, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115237.
- Brisset, J., C. Cox, J. Metzger, T. Miletich, N. Mohammed, A. Rascon, L. Forczyk, A. Dove, J. Colwell 2022. Plan. Sci. J. 3, 176, doi:10.3847/PSJ/ac779a.
- Featherstone, J., R. Bullard, T. Emm, A. Jackson, R. Reid, S. Shefferman, A. Dove, J. Colwell, J. E. Kollmer, K. E. Daniels 2021. Stick-slip Dynamics in Penetration Experiments on Simulated Regolith. Plan. Sci. J. 2, id.243, doi:10.3847/PSJ/ac3de2.
- Jarmak, S., J. Colwell, A. Dove, J. Brisset 2021. The Adhesive Response of Regolith to Low-Energy Disturbances in Microgravity. Gravitational and Space Research, 9, 1-12, doi:10.2478/gsr-2021-0001.
- Eckert, S., J. E. Colwell, T. M. Becker, L. W. Esposito 2021. Sizes of the Smallest Particles at Saturn’s Ring Edges. Icarus 357, 114224, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2020.114224.
- Jerousek, R. G., J. E. Colwell, M. Hedman, R. French, E. Marouf, L. W. Esposito, P. D. Nicholson 2019. Saturn’s C Ring and Cassini Division: Particle Sizes from Cassini UVIS, VIMS, and RSS Occultations. Icarus, 344, 113565, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.113565.
Courses Taught
- PHY 1038 Fall 2018
- PHY 2053 Spring 2018
- AST 6112 Fall 2017
- PHY 2054 Spring 2017
- PHY 2053 Fall 2016
- PHY 2054 Syllabus Spring 2016
- PHY 2054 Syllabus Fall 2015
- PHY 2053 Syllabus Spring 2015
- AST 6112 Syllabus Spring 2015
- PHY 2053 Syllabus, Fall 2014
- PHY 2054_Syllabus Spring 2013
- PHY 2053 Syllabus, Fall 2012
