Photo of Zack Andalman

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Princeton University Department of Astrophysical Sciences and a Department of Energy Computational Sciences Graduate Fellow. I use simulations and (semi-)analytics to understand the physics of tidal disruption events (TDEs), where a star is torn apart by the tidal field of a supermassive black hole (SMBH). These rare events are unique astrophysical probes of quiescent SMBHs, accretion physics, and the dynamics of the galactic center. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) promises to dramatically increase the observed TDE rate, making this an exciting time for TDE modeling.

Outside of research, I am a triathlete and a jazz pianist. Feel free to contact me for collaboration or outreach purposes!

My Academic Journey

Map of my academic journey
Evanston, IL
2015 - 2019

I grew up in Evanston, IL just North of Chicago where I attended Evanston Township High School (ETHS). During my junior and senior years at ETHS, I worked with Sasha Tchekhovskoy (Northwestern University) on disk formation in TDEs using the GRMHD code H-AMR.