Michael Zemcov
Associate Professor
Michael Zemcov
Associate Professor
Education
BSc, University of British Columbia (Canada); Ph.D., Cardiff University (United Kingdom)
Bio
I am a research professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy and director of RIT's Experimental Astrophysics Laboratory. My research centers on instrumentation for cosmological observations, including the cosmic microwave and infra-red backgrounds. I develop instruments and data analysis methods for a variety of platforms, including ground-based, sub-orbital rockets, and orbital observatories. Currently, my scientific focus is on the epoch of reionization, secondary anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background, and studies of the history of star formation in the Universe using novel techniques and experiments. I have extensive experience with instrumentation, observation and data analysis for astrophysics throughout the electromagnetic spectrum from the optical to the radio, with particular emphasis on the infra-red and sub-mm/mm regimes. My group is currently involved in several projects in a variety of roles, ranging from technology development to the scientific interpretation of data from mature instruments.
For more information please visit the Zemcov Research Group website.
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Currently Teaching
In the News
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February 26, 2025
Ph.D. student gets a look into her future as part of astronomical experiment team
Dunn is part of the Tomographic Ionized Carbon Mapping Experiment (TIME), a project that is studying the early universe by mapping the emission of ionized carbon from distant galaxies.
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February 21, 2025
NASA mission to explore the origins of the universe ready to launch with help from RIT
Associate Professor Michael Zemcov is a co-investigator of NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory, which will provide an all-sky spectral survey of galaxies and stars providing scientists with data never before received. SPHEREx also will explore the origin of water in planetary systems.
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October 23, 2023
An astrophysicist explains why even if you were right next to the Voyager probes 15 billion miles from the sun you could still see them
Business Insider talks to Michael Zemcov, associate professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy, about how bright light from the sun would be at 15 million miles away.
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April 15, 2024
Zemcov examines galaxy cluster data
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December 13, 2023
Zemcov presents on far-IR astrophysics
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August 17, 2022
Faculty, students represent RIT at SPIE conference
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May 19, 2020
Zemcov joins NASA mission