Dr. Paul Goldsmith's recent work has focused on determining time scales of processes associated with the formation of molecular clouds and young stars. This has included use of atomic hydrogen in molecular clouds as a tracer of their evolution and history. Goldsmith has also worked on determining the conditions for formation of massive stars by using molecular line and dust continuum emission. He has also been using specific tracers of chemistry in the interstellar medium to assess impact of star formation on remaining molecular cloud material via shocks and other processes.

Goldsmith is the NASA Project Scientist for the Herschel Space Observatory, a far-infrared/submillimeter spectroscopic and photometric mission launched late in May 2009

• A.B. in Physics, University of California, Berkeley (1969)
• Ph.D. in Physics, University of California, Berkeley (1975)

Dr. Goldsmith's areas of interest in astronomy include unravelling the structure of dense molecular clouds and understanding how star formation occurs within them. This has led to developing techniques for probing the densities, temperatures, and other physical conditions in these regions. In addition to carrying out ground-based and airborne observations, was a co-investigator with the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS), studying water and other important tracers.

Goldsmith has an ongoing interest in astronomical instrumentation, especially high-sensitivity systems at centimeter to submillimeter wavelengths. He has also been actively involved in development of focal plane array receivers for radio and submillimeter telescopes.

He is involved with Herschel guaranteed time and open time key projects. He is PI on the Herschel Oxygen Project, which will be searching for molecular oxygen in dense clouds to understand the chemistry of this key species.

• Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 1991
• IEEE MTT Distinguished Lecturer, 1992
• James Weeks Professor in Physical Sciences, Cornell University, 1999-2005

1. “The Arecibo Methanol Maser Galactic Plane Survey. III. Distances and Luminosities,” Pandian, J.D., Menten, K.M., & Goldsmith, P.F. 2009, ApJ, 706, 1609.
2. “A Flexible Quasioptical Input System for a Submillimeter Multiobject Spectrometer,” Goldsmith, P.F. & Seiffert, M. 2009, Publ. Astr. Soc. Pacific, 121, 375.
3. “The Astrophysics of Spectroscopic Studies with the Herschel Space Observatory," Goldsmith, P.F. , in Astronomy in the Submillimeter and Far Infrared Domains with the Herschel Space Observatory, L. Pagani & M. Gerin, eds., Les Ulis: EDP Sciences, 34, 89, 2009.
4. “Large-Scale Structure of the Molecular Gas in Taurus Revealed by High Linear Dynamic Range Spectral Line Mapping,' Goldsmith, P.F. , Heyer, M., Narayanan, G., Snell, R., Li, D., & Brunt, C., 2008, ApJ, 680, 428.
5. ”HI Narrow Self-Absorption in Dark Clouds: Correlations with Molecular Gas and Implications for Cloud Evolution and Star Formation," Goldsmith, P. F. & Li, D.2005, ApJ, 622, 938.
6. "Radio Telescopes and Measurements at Radio Wavelengths," Goldsmith, P.F., ASP Conf. Series Vol. 278, Proc. Conf. Single Dish Radio Astronomy Techniques and Applications, S. Stanimirovic, D.R. Altschuler, P.F. Goldsmith, & C.J. Salter eds. San Francisco: ASP, 45, 2002.
7. "Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite and Arecibo Observations of H2O and OH in a Diffuse Cloud Along the Line of Sight to W51," Neufeld, D.A., Kaufman, M.J., Goldsmith, P.F. , Hollenbach, D.J., & Plume, R. 2002, ApJ, 580, 278.
8. "Tentative Detection of Molecular Oxygen in the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud," Goldsmith, P.F. , Li, D., Bergin, E.A., Melnick, G.J., Tolls, F.V., Howe, J.E., Snell, R.L., & Neufeld, D.A. 2002, ApJ, 576, 814.
9. "Tracing the Infall and the Accretion Shock in the Protostellar Disk L1157," Velusamy, T., Langer, W.D., & Goldsmith, P.F. , ApJ, 565, L43, 2002.
10. “Molecular Depletion and Thermal Balance in Dark Cloud Cores," Goldsmith, P.F. , & Langer, W.D. 2001, ApJ, 557, 736.