Dr. Turner's research centers on the origins of the planets in the disks of gas and dust orbiting young stars. He uses computer calculations to model the gas flows in the disks, the heating and chemical reactions of the primordial materials, and the concentration of the dust particles leading to the growth of larger solid bodies. The models' appearance is calculated with detailed radiative transfer methods and the results are used to understand the measurements of protostellar disks returned by the Spitzer, Hubble and Herschel Space Telescopes, as well as in planning for future missions such as the James Webb Space Telescope. He has also worked on the outflows from young stars, the compositions of the comets, and the accretion of gas by black holes. He made the first direct numerical calculations of black hole disks to include both the magnetic forces driving accretion and the photon diffusion that cools the gas.

• Ph.D., Astrophysics, University of California at Santa Cruz (1998)
• B.Sc. (Hons), Physics, University of Sydney, Australia (1991)

• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2003-Present)
• Supervisor, Interstellar & Heliospheric Physics Group (2015-Present)
• Supervisor, Space & Astrophysical Plasmas Group (2011-2015)
• Staff Scientist (2005-Present)
• National Research Council Fellow (2003-2005)
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science visiting fellowship, Nagoya University (2015)
• Humboldt Foundation visiting fellowship, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (2009-2012)
• University of California, Santa Barbara, Postdoctoral Research Associate (2002-2003)
• University of Maryland at College Park, Postdoctoral Research Associate (1999-2002)

1. CSI 2264: Characterizing Young Stars in NGC 2264 With Short-Duration Periodic Flux Dips in Their Light Curves. Stauffer J. et al. 2015, Astron. J. 149, 130.
2. Global Simulations of Protoplanetary Disks With Ohmic Resistivity and Ambipolar Diffusion.  Gressel O., Turner N. J., Nelson R. P. & McNally C. P. 2015, Astrophys. J. 801, 84.
3. Rossby Wave Instability Does Not Require Sharp Resistivity Gradients.  Lyra W., Turner N. J. & McNally C. P. 2015, Astron. & Astrophys. 574, 10.
4. Herbig Stars' Near-infrared Excess: An Origin in the Protostellar Disk's Magnetically Supported Atmosphere. Turner N. J., Benisty M., Dullemond C. P. & Hirose S. 2014, Astrophys. J. 780, 42.
5. Global Hydromagnetic Simulations of a Planet Embedded in a Dead Zone: Gap Opening, Gas Accretion, and Formation of a Protoplanetary Jet. Gressel O., Nelson R. P., Turner N. J. & Ziegler U. 2013, Astrophys. J. 779, 59.
6. Gaps in Protoplanetary Disks as Signatures of Planets. II. Inclined Disks. Jang-Condell H. & Turner N. J. 2013, Astrophys. J. 772, 34.
7. Protostellar Disk Evolution over Million-Year Timescales with a Prescription for Magnetized Turbulence. Landry R., Dodson-Robinson S. E., Turner N. J. & Abram G. 2013, Astrophys. J. 771, 80.
8. Magnetized Accretion and Dead Zones in Protostellar Disks. Dzyurkevich N., Turner N. J., Henning Th. & Kley W. 2013, Astrophys. J. 765, 114.
9. Dead zones as safe havens for planetesimals: influence of disc mass and external magnetic field. Gressel O., Nelson R. P. & Turner N. J. 2012, Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 422, 1140.
10. A Hot Gap around Jupiter's Orbit in the Solar Nebula. Turner N. J., Choukroun M., Castillo-Rogez J. & Bryden G. 2012, Astrophys. J. 748, 92.
11. Heating and Cooling Protostellar Disks. Hirose S. & Turner N. J., 2011, Astrophys. J. Letters, 732, 188..
12. Dust Transport in Protostellar Disks Through Turbulence and Settling. Turner N. J., Carballido A. & Sano T. 2010, Astrophys. J., 708, 188.
13. Energetic Protons, Radionuclides, and Magnetic Activity in Protostellar Disks. Turner N. J. & Drake J. F. 2009, Astrophys. J. 703, 2152.
14. Dead Zone Accretion Flows in Protostellar Disks. Turner N. J. & Sano T. 2008, Astrophys. J. Letters, 679, 131.
15. Photon Bubbles in the Circumstellar Envelopes Around Young Massive Stars. Turner N. J., Quataert E. & Yorke H. W. 2007, Astrophys. J., 662, 1052.
16. Turbulent Mixing in the Outer Solar Nebula. Turner N. J., Willacy K., Bryden G. & Yorke H. W. 2006, Astrophys. J., 639, 1218.
17. The Effects of Photon Bubble Instability in Radiation-Dominated Accretion Disks. Turner N. J., Blaes O. M., Socrates A., Begelman M. C. & Davis S. W. 2005, Astrophys. J., 624, 267.
18. On the Vertical Structure of Radiation-Dominated Accretion Disks. Turner N. J. 2004, Astrophys. J. Letters, 605, 45.
19. Driving Outflows From Young Stars Through the Effects of Internal Disk Fields. Turner N. J., Bodenheimer P. & Rozyczka M. 1999, Astrophys. J., 524, 129.