John graduated from Truman State and received his PhD in Physics from Penn State. For the past 8 years he has worked on the problem of mathematically simulating the waveform created when black holes merge and collide. His team is continuing to produce simulations in preparation for a NASA project called "Lisa" which will send an array of satellites with interferometers into space for the purpose of detecting the gravity waves coming from black hole collisions.
He was given the NASA Space Science Achievement Award in 2007 for his breakthrough research in the computer simulation of gravitational waves. In 2008, he received the John C. Lindsey Award for Space Science from the Goddard Space Center, the highest honor for outstanding contributions in space science. His team developed a method to translate Einstein's equations into a form that computers can handle. He credits Dr. Kramme, and the AP program at Oak Park for his intense interest in science. John is married to Christy and has 2 children, and lives in Maryland.
