Brendan Mullan
Director of Undergraduate Laboratories
Associate Teaching Professor
Doherty Hall A301B
Education & Professional Experience
PhD: The Pennsylvania State University, Astronomy and Astrophysics (2013)
M.S.: The Pennsylvania State University, Astronomy and Astrophysics (2010)
B.A.: Colagte University, Physics (2007)
Associate Professor of Physics, Point Park University (2021-2023)
Senior Curriculum and Assessment Strategist, Point Park University (2022-2023)
Director of the Core Curriculum, Point Park University (2022-2023)
Assistant Professor of Physics, Point Park University (2015-2021)
Assistant Director, Honors Program, Point Park University (2017-2022)
Co-Founder and Director of Science, The Wrinkled Brain Project (2015-2021)
Director, Buhl Planetarium and Observatory (2014-2015)
Research Scientist and Educator, Blue Marble Space Institute of Science (2013-2021)
Honors and Awards
Point Park University Finkelhor Distinguished Lecturer (2023)
Creative Nonfiction Science as Story Fellow (2020)
Point Park University Center for Inclusive Excellence Splashmaker of the Year (2018)
Alpha Chi Honor Society honorary membership for service at Point Park University (2016)
National Geographic Emerging Explorer (2013)
NASA Famelab science communication national champion (2012)
NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant fellow (2009–2011)
Zaccheus Daniel fellow, Pennsylvania State University (2010)
Colgate University Physics and Astronomy Department Founders Award (2007)
Professional Profile
Brendan Mullan is an associate teaching professor and the Director of Undergraduate Laboratories in the Department of Physics. His primary goal is to guide the ongoing evolution of the experimental physics courses at Carnegie Mellon, using data-informed practices and physics education research. He has also developed and taught a variety of astronomy, astrobiology, and physics courses at a number of universities, employing novel video game, narrative story, and inquiry-based elements. Brendan is also an explorer with National Geographic and a science communicator, with awards and accolades from the British Council, NASA, and the Creative Nonfiction Foundation.
Selected Publications
Star clusters in tidal debris. Rodruck, M., and 15 co-authors (including Mullan, B.). Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 526, 2
Population Growth, Energy Use, and the Implications for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Mullan, B. and Haqq-Misra, J. 2019, Futures, 106, 4
The Astrobiology of the Anthropocene. Haqq-Misra, J., Som, S., and Mullan, B. A whitepaper on "Astrobiology Science Strategy" submitted to the NAS, 2018.
A Tale of Two Tails: Exploring Stellar Populations in the Tidal Tails of NGC 3256. Rodruck, M., Konstantopoulos, I., Knierman, K., Fedotov, K., Mullan, B., and 5 co-authors. 2016, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 461, 36
The Gˆ Infrared Search for Extraterrestrial Civilizations with Large Energy Supplies III: The Reddest Extended Sources in WISE. Griffith, R. L., Wright, J. T., Mal- donado, J., Povich, M., S., Sigurðsson, S., Mullan, B.. 2015, The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 217, 25
The Gˆ Infrared Search for Extraterrestrial Civilizations with Large Energy Supplies II: Framework, Strategy, and First Result. Wright, J. T., Griffith, R. L., Sigurðsson, S., Povich, M. S., Mullan, B.. 2014, The Astrophysical Journal, 792, 27
The Gˆ Infrared Search for Extraterrestrial Civilizations with Large Energy Supplies I: Background and Justification. Wright, J. T., Mullan, B., Sigurðsson, S., Povich, M. S. 2014, The Astrophysical Journal, 792, 26
Tidal Tails of Minor Mergers II: Comparing Star Formation in the Tidal Tails of NGC 2782. Knierman, K. A., Scowen, P.A., Veach, T., Groppi, C., Mullan, B., and 3 co-authors. 2013, The Astrophysical Journal, 774, 125
Under Pressure: Star Clusters and the HI Medium of Tidal Tails. Mullan, B., Kepley, A. A., Maybhate, A., and 9 co-authors. 2013, The Astrophysical Journal, 768, 194
Gemini Spectroscopic Survey of Young Star Clusters in Merging/Interacting Galaxies. IV: Stephan’s Quintet. Trancho, G., Konstantopoulos, I. S., Bastian, N., Fedotov, K., Gallagher, S., Mullan, B. and Charlton, J. C. 2012, The Astro- physical Journal, 748, 102
Star Clusters in the Tidal Tails of Interacting Galaxies: Cluster Populations Across a Variety of Tail Environments. Mullan, B., Konstantopoulos, I. S., Kepley, A. A., and 17 co-authors. 2011, The Astrophysical Journal, 731, 93 93
Smooth and Starburst Tidal Tails in the GEMS and GOODS Fields. Elmegreen, D., Elmegreen, B., Ferguson, T., Mullan, B. 2007, The Astrophysical Journal, 663, 734