Background
Frank was born in Belleville, New Jersey, on August 1, 1962.
Frank was born in Belleville, New Jersey, on August 1, 1962.
He attended the University of Colorado for his undergraduate work and received his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Washington.
His research focuses on computational astrophysics with an emphasis on star formation and late stages of stellar evolution. His popular writing has focused on issues of science it its cultural context, including issues of science and religion and the role of technology in the human experience of time. He held post-doctoral positions at Leiden University in the Netherlands and the University of Minnesota.
In 1995, Frank was awarded the Hubble Fellowship.
In 1996, he joined the faculty of the University of Rochester, where he is currently a professor of astrophysics. Frank"s research focus is astrophysical fluid dynamics.
His research group developed the AstroBEAR Adaptive Mesh Refinement code used for simulating magneto fluid dynamics flows in astrophysical contexts. Projects using AstroBEAR include the study of jets from protostars as well the evolution of planetary nebula at the end of a solar-type star"s life.
Frank"s first book was The Constant Fire: Beyond the Science versus
Religion Debate. Published in 2009, it attempted to define alternative perspectives in the discussion of science and religion. Frank"s second book, published in the fall of 2011, is called About Time: Cosmology and Culture at the Twilight of the Big Bang, and it explores the relationship between changing ideas in cosmology and the cultural idea of time.
In 2010, Frank co-founded National Public Radio"s 13.7 Cosmos and Culture Blog with Marcelo Gleiser.
Frank has also written for magazines such as Discover. 2009 Best American Science and Nature Writing.