Dr. Ben Davis

I work at the Center for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS) at New York University Abu Dhabi, where I am a CASS Fellow and Research Associate. My research involves studying the structure of spiral galaxies. To do this, I examine the geometry of spiral arms using a suite of custom software I helped design. I also perform multi-component decompositional analysis of galaxies to separate them into their constituent components (i.e., bulge, disk, bar, spiral arms, nucleus, etc.). With this detailed knowledge of galaxy composition and geometry, I can then construct accurate black hole mass scaling relations that can be used to predict the mass of the central massive black hole in galaxies. I incorporate machine learning (e.g., symbolic regression) in my search to help identify higher-dimensional black hole mass scaling relations. By conducting a census of black hole demography in galaxies, future studies can better understand the intimate relationship between central black holes and their host galaxies and garner information about their coevolution.

I am also a classically-trained musician who regularly performs on the violin or viola with various professional and amateur ensembles. Past positions have involved playing with the Southeast Kansas Symphony Orchestra, the PSU Chamber Orchestra, the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the University of Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, national Broadway tours of "South Pacific" and "West Side Story," the Arkansas New Music Ensemble, the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, the Victorian Amateur Chamber Music Society, the Melbourne Tango Orchestra, a soloist with the Yachad Chamber Orchestra, the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, and various ad hoc string quartets and chamber ensembles.