I did my Ph.D. in astrophysics at Princeton University, broadly interested in the physical mechanisms that produce astrophysical transients such as quasi-periodic eruptions, partial-tidal disruption events, and white dwarf merger remnants. My thesis is focused on the fate of stars near supermassive black holes. Learn more about me by checking out my CV (updated 01/21/26).

I am also very interested in teaching and public outreach. During undergrad, I was on the leadership team for CU-STARs (Science, Technology, and Astronomy Recruits). In Spring 2023, I TA’ed AST 403/PHY 402 Stars and Star Formation. More recently, I served on the Summer Science Program’s (SSP) Connect Committee for 2 years and the Admission Committee for 1 year, and have been a Connect Mentor for the past 5 years for young SSP alumni during their final year of high school.

Education

2021-2026 Ph.D. in Astrophysics, Princeton University
2021-2023 M.A. in Astrophysics, Princeton University
2018-2021 B.A. in Astrophysics, CU Boulder

First-author Publications

Star-Disk Collisions II: Debris Stream Dynamics and Implications for QPEs and Other Transients Near SMBHs
Yao, P. Z., Quataert, E., Jiang, Y-F., Linial, I. (2026, submitted to ApJ)

“Mass Transfer in Tidally Heated Stars Orbiting Massive Black Holes and Implications for Repeating Nuclear Transients”
Yao, P. Z., Quataert, E. (2026, OJAp)

“Star-Disk Collisions: Implications for QPEs and Other Transients Near Supermassive Black Holes”
Yao, P. Z., Quataert, E., Jiang, Y-F., Lu, W., White, C. J. (2025, ApJ)

“The Origin of the Consistent Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function Bright-end Cutoff”
Yao, P. Z., Quataert, E. (2023, ApJ)

“Observational Signatures of Carbon-Oxygen White Dwarf Merger Remnants”
Yao, P. Z., Quataert, E. (2023, MNRAS)

“A Negative Long Lag from the Optical to the UV Continuum in Fairall 9”
Yao, P. Z., Secunda, A., Jiang, Y-F., Greene, J. E., Villar, A. (2023, ApJ)

“Radiation GRMHD simulations of M87: funnel properties and prospects for gap acceleration” 
Yao, P. Z., Dexter, J., Chen, A. Y., Ryan, B., Wong, G. (2021, MNRAS)