Postdoctoral fellow Tobias Mistele’s research is expanding our understanding of galaxies, dark matter and modified gravity. But Mistele, who came to Case Western Reserve University from Germany, wouldn’t be doing this work if he hadn’t gotten “sidetracked” after initially training as a theoretical physicist.
Now Mistele and Stacy McGaugh, professor in the Department of Astronomy, have developed a new technique to do weak gravitational lensing analyses, the phenomenon where light doesn’t travel on straight lines when it passes close to a massive object.
When Mistele and McGaugh applied that technique, they found the puzzling result that the dark matter around galaxies is much further extended than previously thought. Their finding favors an alternative to dark matter as an explanation for many phenomena we observe around galaxies, namely modifying the laws of gravity. Their research is showing intriguing results and they plan to further pursue this direction in the future. Read more about their breakthrough discovery, which challenges the conventional understanding of cosmology.
Watch a video that breaks down the research.
Learn more about Mistele’s experience as a postdoc.
Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
1. What has been your best experience so far as a CWRU postdoc?
The eclipse was pretty cool! We had a good spot to watch, with the rooftop telescope on campus.
2. How do you think the postdoctoral experience at CWRU is helping you prepare and advance toward your goals?
I had the opportunity to make valuable connections, getting to know and collaborating with great researchers both at CWRU and worldwide. I also want to say that I always had all the support I needed from my department, allowing me to focus on what matters.
3. What’s your best piece of advice on how postdocs can make the most of their postdoc career and prepare for their future goals?
This does of course not apply universally, but it can be worth getting sidetracked! If you work outside your established area of expertise, you may be able to bring something unique to the table. And you will in any case learn a ton in return. So it can definitely be worth getting outside your comfort zone.