Associate Professor
Director, George Mason Observatories
Department of Physics and Astronomy
George Mason University
Contact info:
pplavcha@gmu.edu
Cell: (626)234-1628
Office: (703)993-5893
Address
Department of Physics and Astronomy
4400 University Ave, MSN 3F3
Fairfax, VA 22030
Education & Employment History
Associate Professor, George Mason University, 2020-current
Assistant Professor, George Mason University, 2017-2020
Assistant Professor, Missouri State University, 2014-2017
Assistant Research Scientist, IPAC/Caltech, 2014
Assistant Staff Scientist, IPAC/Caltech, 2008-2014
Postdoctoral Scholar, IPAC/Caltech, 2006-2008
PhD, Physics, UCLA 2006 (thesis)
MS, Physics, UCLA 2002
BS, Physics, Caltech 2001
Current Appointments & Collaboration Memberships
ORCAS Mission Concept Science Team
PARVI Science Team
iSHELL Science Team
HISPEC/MODIUS Science Team
MINERVA Co-PI
MINERVA-Australis Co-PI
TESS Follow-up Working Group
EarthFinder Mission Concept PI
Past Appointments and Memberships
TESS Target Selection Working Group
Visiting Professor, University of Pennsylvania, 2014-2017
LSST Stellar Populations Working Group
NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group (Exo-PAG) Executive Committee member, 2012-2016
Chair & member, grant panels
Recent Awards
University of Southern Queensland Research Giant (2020)
George Mason University Core Excellence in Teaching Award (2020)
NASA Group Achievement Awards (2020, 2017, 2014, 2010)
GMU College of Science Dean’s Early Career Excellence Award (2019)
GMU College of Science Excellence in Mentoring award nomination (2019)
MSU College of Natural and Applied Sciences Research Award (2017)