My name is Jacob Payne (he/him/his), and I am a fifth-year PhD Candidate in Physics & Astronomy. I was born in Reston, VA, and grew up in Atlanta, GA. I went to Georgia Tech and studied Aerospace Engineering. From there, I went to work at Blue Canyon Technologies in Boulder, CO. At the University of Iowa, I study pulsars and telescope optics at X-ray wavelengths with applications for Pulsar-informed Navigation (PIN) onboard spacecraft. 

As Graduate and Professional Student Government president, it is my job to coordinate efforts with university partners, advocate on behalf of all graduate and professional students, and oversee all the projects and funding that GPSG. I want everyone to have opportunities to grow and chances to learn from one another. To that end, I believe in supporting graduate and professional students who use traditional and innovative ways to create and enhance our campus community. When student government can promote and fund student-led resources, activities, and organizations that grow and strengthen our community, our entire campus community benefits. 

Let me know how student government can help you!