Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) was established in 1890 as a research unit of the Smithsonian Institution concentrating on studies of solar radiance. Sixty-five years later, SAO assumed responsibility for establishing an optical network for tracking the first artificial satellites. From this pioneering effort, the size and scope of SAO grew with the international space program to include major research in virtually all branches of astrophysics, as well as in areas of earth and planetary sciences.

Since 1955, when its headquarters moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, SAO has pursued such research in close collaboration with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO) and the Harvard University Department of Astronomy. On July 1, 1973, the Smithsonian Institution and Harvard University formalized their collaboration now known as the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) to coordinate the related research activities of the two observatories under a single director. Today the observatories retain their separate identities, each responsible to its parent organization; however, the joint venture draws on the coordinated strengths of the two organizations and the combined staffs in six research divisions: Atomic and Molecular Physics; High Energy Astrophysics; Optical and Infrared Astronomy; Radio and Geoastronomy; Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Sciences; and Theoretical Astrophysics. In addition, the CfA has a Science Education Department.

Facilities

Observational facilities include the multipurpose Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO) on Mt. Hopkins in Arizona and the Submillimeter Array Telescope (SMA) on Maunakea, Hawaii, the latter a collaboration with the Academia Sinica’s Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics of Taiwan. The major instrument on Mt. Hopkins is the 6.5-m-diameter optical telescope of the MMT Observatory, a facility operated jointly with the University of Arizona. SAO scientists have developed and deployed a suite of advanced wide-field imagers and spectrographs for the MMT including the Hectospec/Hectochelle fiber-fed optical spectrographs, the Megacam imager, and MMIRS, an infrared spectrograph and imager. VERITAS, the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System, is a major ground-based gamma-ray observatory at FLWO with an array of four 12-m optical reflectors for gamma-ray astronomy in the GeV – TeV energy range. Also located at the FLWO are: the MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA), the MEarth planet hunter, a 1.2-m imaging optical/infrared telescope, and the 1.5-m Tillinghast spectroscopic telescope. FLWO is also home to HAT, the Hungarian Automated Telescope, a completely automated set of small aperture telescopes that search for transiting extra-solar planets; four HAT-Net telescopes are operating at FLWO and two are at the SMA site in Hawaii awaiting permits.

In addition to these SAO-operated facilities, the Center for Astrophysics has a 20% share of the twin 6.5-m Magellan telescopes in Chile, operated by a five-institution consortium headed by the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. A set of f/5 wide-field optics, identical to those at the MMT, have been installed at the Magellan Clay Telescope. These new Magellan optics allow the operation of Megacam and MMIRS in the Southern Hemisphere. Not least, SAO/CfA is involved in the development of both the 25-m Giant Magellan Telescope, with its partners in the Magellan consortium and others, and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.  Special laboratories are maintained for the development of telescope instrumentation and for the spectroscopy of atoms and molecules. A 1.2-m radio telescope on the roof of the Observatory in Cambridge is used for the study of molecular clouds and the structure of the Milky Way through the spectral lines of CO and other molecules.

SAO instrumentation is also operating in space. The Chandra X-ray Observatory, the third of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Great Observatories, carries the High Resolution Mirror Assembly X-ray telescope whose development SAO oversaw. Chandra’s High Resolution Camera (HRC), which SAO designed and built and operates for NASA, is used to study X-rays from high-energy regions of the Universe.  SAO, on behalf of NASA, serves as the site of both the Chandra X-ray Observatory Science Center (CXC) and the Chandra Operations and Control Center, the latter of which conducts Chandra flight operations on an around-the-clock basis. The CXC develops and oversees the General Observer program for this mission, as well as calibrates, manages, and distributes data received from Chandra.

SAO’s Solar and Stellar X-ray Group space-based mission scientists are principals in the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) investigation for NASA’s Solar Probe Plus mission to the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe is orbiting the Sun, setting records as the fastest human-made object and the closest a spacecraft has ever approached the Sun.  SAO built and operates the Solar Probe Faraday Cup instrument and leads this suite of instruments to measure the Sun’s thermal plasma.  These instruments endure an extremely harsh environment while making ground-breaking scientific measurements about the fundamental processes taking place in the solar corona and interplanetary space.  The mission has completed 7 solar encounters, and 2 Venus flybys that brought the probe to within just 13.3 solar radii, more than 4 times closer than any previous spacecraft.  Last year the spacecraft entered an extended region of sub-Alfvenic plasma (a region dominated by the Sun's magnetic field) and made the first in-situ observation of the solar plasma that eventually becomes the solar wind. The group is a major partner in the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly of the Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft, which provides better-than-high-definition-quality images of the Sun’s surface and outer atmosphere, measuring physical conditions that help scientists model the stellar wind and its influence on the “space weather” around Earth. Its four telescopes continued to photograph the Sun in ten different wavelength bands once every twelve seconds, continuing to produce the most spectacular images ever recorded of the active surface of the Sun. NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) satellite offers a unique view of the Sun’s mysterious chromosphere and transition regions. SAO built the telescope feed and continued its active role in IRIS operations, calibration, and science to provide information on particle acceleration in hot coronal loops, and a better understanding of the physical processes powering solar flares. SAO scientists also continued their involvement in other solar satellites, including Hinode and the Deep Space Climate Observer. 

SAO also led spaceborne missions in Earth Science. SAO leads NASA’s first Earth Venture Instrument, the TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution) satellite mission as the PI institution and heads the retrieval algorithm and calibration effort of the MethaneSAT satellite mission. TEMPO and MethaneSAT will provide revolutionary measurements of air quality and greenhouse gases and aerosols that are important for understanding air quality and climate change and fighting against air pollution and global warming. During FY21-22 the TEMPO mission made excellent progress. The instrument has been fully integrated into its satellite host and has finished spacecraft thermal vacuum testing. Launch-ready science algorithms have been completed, and ground systems, including Instrument Operation Center and Science Data Processing Center, hosted at SAO, are to be completed soon for the Operation Readiness Review. TEMPO is scheduled to launch on a Space X Falcon 9 on March 1st, 2023, providing the first-ever hourly daytime observations of atmospheric pollution from a geostationary orbit over North America.  MethaneSAT is an Environmental Defense Fund funded mission funded by philanthropic donors to address climate change. The mission objective is to measure methane emission over 80% of the global oil and gas sector and produce actionable data to reduce the oil and gas methane emission by 45% by 2025. The instrument has been mostly built and is waiting for integration with the spacecraft bus for a launch by SpaceX in October 2023. SAO has been involved in the MethaneSAT project since its inception in 2015, including feasibility studies, and has led the built-up of its airborne precursor instrument called MethaneAIR. SAO is leading the MethaneSAT/MethaneAIR retrieval algorithm development and instrument calibration of the MethaneSAT mission, which will fly on a dedicated plane routinely for 40-60 hours/month to complement MethaneSAT and double methane observations.

Numerous facilities serving the general scientific community are located at the CfA in Cambridge. The Institute for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, established in 1988 to attract and encourage talented graduate students to enter this field, emphasizes theoretical study of fundamental questions in atomic and molecular physics, hosts many visitors, both long- and short-term, and conducts conferences and workshops. The Center for X-ray Technology, established in 2003 as a collaborative effort with other institutions, promotes the development of detectors and optics leading to space telescope applications, including X-ray interferometers. The Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC), also hosted by the CfA, is dedicated to research in high-end astrophysical computing. The ITC consists of members of the Harvard Department of Astronomy, Smithsonian astrophysicists, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and associates at other institutions.

Other services at SAO include the Minor Planet Center (MPC), which is sanctioned by the International Astronomical Union to process and archive all astrometric and radar observations of the Solar System’s small-bodies.  The MPC currently receives approximately 50 million observations per year from observatories around the world, with the majority of the data being submitted from large surveys funded via NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office. The MPC assigns designations and discovery credit, provides up-to-date orbital elements and ephemerides, and coordinates follow-up observations. The Science Program for NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is led by SAO and directed by Dr. David Latham. SAO is responsible for orchestrating the follow-up observations needed to confirm and characterize the planet candidates identified by TESS, now in its fifth year of operation.  The TESS Follow-up Observing Program Working Group has more than 600 members based at observatories all around the world.  SAO’s telescopes at the Whipple Observatory on Mount Hopkins in Arizona play a major role in this work. A recent milestone passed recently by the TESS mission was paper number 1000 published in a refereed journal.  SAO is a team member of the NASA’s MIDEX SPHEREx mission, and during FY22 continued to develop plans for this space-based telescope which will conduct four all-sky infrared spectral surveys. 

The United States’ gateway for SIMBAD, an international astronomical computer database, is located at the SAO’s Cambridge site, as is Harvard’s extensive collection of astronomical photographic plates, the largest in the world. In addition, SAO conceived, developed, and now operates the Astrophysics Data System (ADS), funded by NASA. This service includes on-line access to more than 12 million abstracts of articles in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, space instrumentation, and space physics. Full-text on-line journals are also available. The HITRAN database of molecular parameters for transmission through and emission from planetary atmospheres is maintained at SAO for more than 5000 users worldwide. SAO developed and maintains the AtomDB project, which includes a large database of atomic data and a suite of spectral models used in modeling X-ray emitting astrophysical plasma; it is an integral part of X-ray analysis software such as NASA's HEASOFT. SAO participates in the National Virtual Observatory (NVO) and the International Virtual Observatory (IVOA) collaborations, whose aims are to implement improved connectivity between the various astronomical data archives in the world.

The Wolbach Library is the CfA library and includes the SAO collection as well as that of HCO. It is available to the staff and to visitors. Located near the center of a community of universities, government agencies, and corporate scientific enterprises, SAO investigators enjoy access to a variety of facilities and counsel, and may avail themselves of opportunities to pursue academic interests within the community. Smithsonian staff, research fellows, and their Harvard colleagues at the CfA publish about one thousand refereed papers each year in internationally known journals.

Office of the Director

Research Staff

Kewley, Lisa J.,  Director, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University; B.Sc. University of Adelaide;  Ph.D. (2002) Australian National University.   Research specialties: Theoretical modeling and observations of star-forming and active galaxies. Contact: lisa.kewley@cfa.harvard.edu

McCarthy, Michael C., Deputy Director; Associate Director, Atomic and Molecular Physics Division., , Senior Physicist; B.Sc. (1986) University of Alaska; Ph.D. (1992) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Astrochemistry; laboratory astrophysics of reactive molecules; microwave and laser spectroscopy. Contact: mmccarthy@cfa.harvard.edu

Smith, Randall K., Associate Director, Science (ADS), Astrophysicist. B.S (1991) Carnegie Mellon University; Ph.D (1996) University of Wisconsin. Research specialties: X-ray Astronomy: Interstellar Medium, Interstellar Dust, Galaxy Clusters; Atomic Physics: Theoretical Calculations, X-ray Spectroscopy. Contact: RSmith@cfa.harvard.edu

Research Programs

The scientific objectives of the CfA are intentionally flexible so that response to new research opportunities can be prompt and effective. By design, the research programs reflect the strongest areas of the two observatories and concentrate in fields where the contribution to national goals and scientific excellence can best be realized.

High Energy Astrophysics

Research in the High Energy Astrophysics Division focuses on astronomical objects and processes that emit and absorb energy as X-rays, which include planets, all types of stars including the Sun, neutron stars, supernova remnants, supermassive and stellar-mass black holes, galaxies, and galaxy clusters. Observations are made from spacecraft, notably the Earth-orbiting Chandra X-ray Observatory, one of NASA’s Great Observatories, as well as other space-based X-ray telescopes. The division’s scientific studies are directed at a broad range of topics, including a) cosmology, b) the structure, interactions, and evolution of astronomical objects, and c) processes that generate X-ray radiation. In support of their scientific studies, members of the division use telescopes at all major observatories covering all available wavelengths. Division scientists also play a role in advancing instrumentation and are working to develop novel X-ray optics and detectors. In addition, the Division operates the NASA Astrophysics Data System, the premier digital library of astrophysics publications. Staff members participate in planning and developing major new X-ray missions, and operate the Chandra X-ray Center, which conducts flight operations and science activities for the Chandra X-ray Observatory. 

The Division has a strong and active Solar and Stellar X-ray Group (SSXG), which participates in the development of new experiments and in the operation of ongoing missions. Ongoing SSXG space-based mission participation includes Hinode, Solar Dynamics Observatory, IRIS and DSCOVR. Division scientists are principals in the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) investigation for NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission to the Sun. The SSXG is a major partner in NASA's HelioSwarm MIDEX mission, which will use a swarm of nine spacecraft to investigate turbulence in space plasmas. Additionally, the SSXG is a major partner in NASA's MUSE MIDEX, currently in Phase B of the program. We are responsible for a significant portion of the flight hardware and for science participation. Building on the successful 2017 and 2019 solar eclipse flights of their airborne spectrograph, SSXG won additional NSF funds to create an imaging Fourier transform spectrometer, the Airborne Coronal Emission Surveyor (ACES), to survey the 1-4 micron emission corona during the 2024 total solar eclipse. The throughput and image stability required by ACES are enabled by the Airborne Stabilized Platform for InfraRed Experiments (ASPIRE), a large-aperture, Sun-pointed, image-stabilized platform built by SSXG for the NSF Gulfstream V on a 2019 NSF grant. In parallel with their airborne program, SSXG is developing a balloon-borne coronagraph and spectropolarimeter for long-duration measurements of coronal plasma and magnetic fields. The Coronal Spectropolarimeter for Airborne Infrared Research (CORSAIR), funded by NASA, is a pathfinder for future space-based instrumentation to observe the IR corona. 

In support of its research and educational goals, the Division funds approximately 20 postdoctoral fellows, hosts visiting scientists, runs two NSF summer intern programs – one with a broad focus on astrophysics and a second targeted at solar physics – and conducts extensive education and public outreach activities.

Research Staff

Accomazzi, Alberto, Program Manager, Astrophysics Data System Project. Ph.D. (1988) University of Milan. Research specialties: Digital Libraries; Scientific Information Systems; Semantic Web Technologies; Natural Language Processing; Image Analysis and Classification.  Contact: AAccomazzi@cfa.harvard.edu

Aldcroft, Thomas L., Senior Astrophysicist. B.S. (1987) California Institute of Technology; Ph.D. (1993) Stanford University. Research specialties: Developing community-maintained and sustainable open-source tools for astronomical data analysis. Contact: TAldcroft@cfa.harvard.edu

Arcand, Kimberly K., Visualization Scientist. B.S. (1997) University of Rhode Island; M.A. (2013) Brown University. Ph.D. (2020) University of Otago, New Zealand. Research specialties: data visualization, 3D modeling, emerging technology. Contact: KKowal@cfa.harvard.edu

Asgari-Targhi, Mahboubeh, Astrophysicist. B.S. (2002) University College London, UK; M.S. (2003) Imperial College; Ph.D. (2009) University College London, UK. Research specialties: Solar Physics, Solar wind modeling, Study of magnetic field lines in stars and galaxies, Solar Plasma physics. Contact: masgari-targhi@cfa.harvard.edu

Badman, Samuel T., Astrophysicist (Postdoctoral Fellow), M.Phys. (2016) Oxford University, Ph.D. (2022) University of California, Berkeley. Research specialties: Solar and heliophysics, Coronal Modeling, In-situ plasma data analysis. Contact: samuel.badman@cfa.harvard.edu

Bogdan, Akos, Astrophysicist. M.Sc. (2006) Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary; Ph.D. (2010) Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany. Research specialties: Galaxy evolution, Studies of supermassive black hole, Galaxy clusters, Warm Hot Intergalactic Medium, High-energy astrophysics.  Contact: abogdan@cfa.harvard.edu

Brenneman, Laura W., Astrophysicist; Acting Division Chair, High Energy Astrophysics Division. B.A. (1999) Williams College; Ph.D. (2007) University of Maryland. Research specialties: X-ray spectroscopy of accretion and outflows in AGN and black hole binaries; studies of black hole spin, coronal physics, and absorption signatures in the innermost accretion disk. Contact: lbrenneman@cfa.harvard.edu

Burke, Douglas, Astrophysicist. B.Sc. (1992), M.Sc. (1993) Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (London); Ph.D. (1997) University of Durham. Research specialties: Galaxy clusters; observational cosmology; extragalactic astronomy; software research for X-ray astronomy; astroinformatics; semantic web. Contact: DBurke@cfa.harvard.edu

Castro, Daniel, Astrophysicist. M.S. (2002) University of Edinburgh; Ph.D. (2011) Universidad Simon Bolivar (Venezuela). Research specialties: Supernova Remnants, Pulsar Wind Nebulae, Cosmic Ray Acceleration, X-ray and gamma-ray Astronomy. Contact: daniel.castro@cfa.harvard.edu

Connor, Thomas, Astrophysicist. B.S. (2011) Case Western Reserve University; Ph.D. (2016) Michigan State University. Research specialties: High-redshift Quasars, Clusters of Galaxies, Multi-wavelength Observations, Observational Techniques. Contact: Thomas.Connor@cfa.harvard.edu

D'Abrusco, Raffaele, Astrophysicist. Master’s degree (2004): University of Napoli "Federico II"; Ph.D. (2007): University of Napoli "Federico II". Research specialties: multi-wavelength observations of blazars; properties of globular clusters population in external galaxies, galaxy evolution; machine learning applied to complex/massive astronomical datasets. Contact: rdabrusc@cfa.harvard.edu

David, Laurence P., Astrophysicist. B.A. (1980) Drexel University; M.A. (1983), Ph.D. (1985) Indiana University. Research specialties: Early-Type Galaxies; Groups of Galaxies; Clusters of Galaxies; Cosmology.  LDavid@cfa.harvard.edu

DeLuca, Edward E., Senior Astrophysicist. B.A. (1979), M.A. (1980) Wesleyan University; Ph.D. (1986) University of Colorado. Research specialties: Solar coronal physics; Solar Active Region Modeling; Solar Instrumentation; Magnetohydrodynamics. Contact: EDeLuca@cfa.harvard.edu

Di Stefano, Rosanne, Senior Astrophysicist. B.A. (1973) Queens College; Ph.D. (1982) Stony Brook University. Research specialties: Studies of multiple star systems, including planetary systems and stellar triples; progenitors of Type Ia supernovae and black-hole and neutron star mergers; Gravitational lensing, especially microlensing; analysis of transients in large data sets. Contact: mailto:rdistefano@cfa.harvard.edu

Drake, Jeremy J., Senior Astrophysicist. B.Sc. (1985) University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne; D.Phil. (1989) Brasenose College, Oxford University. Research specialties: Star and planet formation; protoplanetary disks, stellar atmospheres; stellar magnetic activity; element abundances and stellar evolution; novae; extreme ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy.  Contact: JDrake@cfa.harvard.edu

Edmonds, Peter D., Astrophysicist. B.S. (1988), Ph.D. (1994) University of Sydney. Research specialties: Globular clusters; compact binaries, especially accreting systems; HST studies of globulars; optical identifications of X-ray sources; X-ray studies of compact binaries; millisecond pulsars; stellar pulsations. Contact:  PEdmonds@cfa.harvard.edu

Elvis, Martin S., Senior Astrophysicist. B.Sc. (1973) University of Bristol; M.Sc. (1974) University of Sussex; Ph.D. (1978) University of Leicester. Research specialties: Extragalactic X-ray astronomy, quasars, and active galactic nuclei; large scale multi-waveband surveys (X-ray, UV, IR, and radio) esp. of continuum and lines in quasars; models for quasars, winds from quasars, effect of quasars on their host galaxies. Asteroids and the Moon for human exploration and use. Contact: MElvis@cfa.harvard.edu

Evans, Ian N., Astrophysicist. B.Sc. (1982) University of Western Australia; Ph.D. (1987) Australian National University. Research specialties: Physics of active galactic nuclei, including the impact of nuclear activity on the host galaxy; HII region abundances and physics of the interstellar medium; image-processing algorithms.  Contact:   IEvans@cfa.harvard.edu

Fabbiano, Giuseppina, Senior Astrophysicist. Ph.D. (1973) University of Palermo. Research specialties: X-ray astronomy; normal galaxies; populations of X-ray sources in galaxies; Active Galactic Nucleus - galaxy interaction; multiwavelength astrophysics archives and data analysis in the Virtual Observatory. Contact: GFabbiano@cfa.harvard.edu

Forman, William R., Senior Astrophysicist. B.A. (1969) Haverford College; M.A. (1970), Ph.D. (1973) Harvard University. Research specialties: X-ray astronomy; high-energy astrophysics; hot gas in galaxies, galaxy groups, and clusters of galaxies; feedback from supermassive black holes in galaxies.  Contact: WForman@cfa.harvard.edu

Fruscione, Antonella, Astrophysicist. Laurea Doctoral Degree (1986) University of Milan; Degree of Advanced Studies (1987) University of Paris. Research specialties: Multiwavelength studies of active galactic nuclei; EUVE and X-ray astronomy; astronomical data analysis. Contact: AFruscione@cfa.harvard.edu

Gaetz, Terrance, Astrophysicist. S.B. (1977) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.S. (1980), Ph.D. (1985) Cornell University. Research specialties: X-ray astronomy; supernova remnants; nearby galaxies; X-ray optics; computational physics. Contact: TGaetz@cfa.harvard.edu

Garraffo, Cecilia,Astrophysicist. Ph.D. (2010) University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; M.S. (2005) National University of La Plata, Argentina. Research specialties: stellar magnetic activity, stellar rotation, space weather of exoplanets.  Contact: CGarraffo@cfa.harvard.edu

Golub, Leon, Senior Astrophysicist. B.S. (1967) City College of New York; Ph.D. (1972) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: High-resolution X-ray and extreme ultraviolet instrumentation; solar and stellar coronal plasma dynamics and dynamo theory. Contact: LGolub@cfa.harvard.edu

Graessle, Dale E., Astrophysicist. B.S. (1981) University of Missouri, Columbia; Ph.D. (1989) University of Wisconsin. Research specialties: X-ray astronomy; high-energy astrophysics; AGN spectra; instrument calibration; synchrotron radiation. Contact: DGraessle@cfa.harvard.edu

Green, Paul J., Astrophysicist. B.A. (1981) Oberlin; Ph.D. (1992) University of Washington, Seattle. Research specialties: Extragalactic X-ray astronomy; quasars and AGN; optical variability surveys; quasar variability; X-ray survey multiwavelength followup; wide separation quasar pairs or lenses; quasar emission and absorption lines; dwarf carbon stars, optical variability surveys for quasars and stars. Contact: pgreen@cfa.harvard.edu

Huang, Caroline D., Astrophysicist (Postdoctoral Researcher), A.B. (2013) Harvard College; M.A. (2015) Johns Hopkins University; Ph.D. (2019) Johns Hopkins University. Research specialties: cosmology, variable stars, distance ladder, evolved stars. Contact: Caroline.Huang@cfa.harvard.edu

Jerius, Diab, Astrophysicist. B.S. (1984) Wayne State University; Ph.D. (1992) University of Michigan. Research specialties: Numerical cosmology; galaxy cluster evolution. Contact: DJerius@cfa.harvard.edu

Jones, Christine, Senior Astrophysicist. A.B. (1971) Radcliffe College; A.M. (1972), Ph.D. (1974) Harvard University. Research specialties: Galaxies; groups and clusters of galaxies. Contact: CJones@cfa.harvard.edu

Kashyap, Vinay L., Astrophysicist. M.S. (1993), Ph.D. (1994) University of Chicago. Research specialties: Solar and stellar coronae; diffuse X-ray emission; X-ray analysis algorithms. Contact: Vkashyap@cfa.harvard.edu

Kim, Dong-Woo, Astrophysicist. B.A. (1980) Seoul National University; M.A. (1982) Seoul National University, Ph.D. (1988) University of California, Los Angeles. Research specialties: Multi-wavelength study of ISM in Early Type Galaxies; X-ray Astronomy; Normal Galaxies; Identification of Serendipitous X-ray Sources. Contact: dkim@cfa.harvard.edu

Kraft, Ralph P., Senior Astrophysicist. B.S. (1988) University of Pittsburgh; Ph.D. (1995) Pennsylvania State University. Research specialties: Instrumentation for X-ray astronomy, astrophysical jets, hydrodynamics, galaxy mergers, formation of structure. Contact: RKraft@cfa.harvard.edu

Long, Xi, Astrophysicist (Postdoctoral Fellow). Ph.D. (2019) University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Research specialties: X-ray image of spectral analysis of supernova remnant. Contact: Xi.Long@cfa.harvard.edu

Madsen, Chad, Astrophysicist. B.A. (2009) Boston University; M.A. (2012) Boston University; Ph.D. (2017) Boston University. Research specialties: Observational astronomy of the solar atmosphere, ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy of the Sun, space-based and airborne observing. Contact: cmadsen@cfa.harvard.edu

Maksym, W. Peter, Astrophysicist. B.S. (1999) Yale University; M.S. (2008) Northwestern University; Ph.D. (2012) Northwestern University. Research specialties: Supermassive black holes; active galaxies; multi-wavelength observational astrophysics. Contact: Walter.Maksym@cfa.harvard.edu

Martinez-Galarza, Rafael, Astrophysicist. B.Sc. (2000) Universidad Nacional de Colombia; M.S. (2007), Leiden University; Ph.D. (2012) Leiden University. Research specialties: Machine learning in astronomy, catalog science, star formation, high energy astrophysics. Contact: jmartine@cfa.harvard.edu

McCollough, Michael L., Astrophysicist. B.S. (1975), M.S. (1981) Auburn University; Ph.D. (1989) Indiana University. Research specialties: X-ray binaries; microquasars; high-energy astrophysics; multi-wavelength studies; X-ray astronomy; gamma-ray astronomy; supernova remnants. Contact: MMcCollough@cfa.harvard.edu

McDowell, Jonathan C., Astrophysicist. B.A. (1981), Ph.D. (1987) Cambridge University. Research specialties: Quasars; black holes; multiwaveband studies; astronomical software; satellite constellation effects on astronomy. Contact: JMcDowell@cfa.harvard.edu

Montez, Rodolfo, Astrophysicist. B.S. (2003) University of Texas at Austin; Ph.D. (2010) Rochester Institute of Technology. Research specialties: multiwavelength imaging of dying stars; using space-based satellite observatories, data mining, and data visualization to advance our understanding of the universe.  Contact: rmontez@cfa.harvard.edu

Monsch, Kristina, Astrophysicist (Postdoctoral Fellow). Ph.D. (2021) Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich. Research specialties: theoretical astrophysics, star & planet formation. Contact: Kristina.Monsch@cfa.harvard.edu 

Moore, Christopher Samuel, Astrophysicist. B.S. (2010) University of Iowa; M.S. (2014), Ph.D. (2017) University of Colorado, Boulder. Research specialties: Solar and stellar coronal physics; magnetic field morphology of the solar photosphere, elemental abundance determinations in solar and stellar atmospheres, X-ray and UV instrumentation development, UV-Vis optical coating development, Instrument characterization.  Contact: Christopher.s.moore@cfa.harvard.edu

Murphy, Nicholas A., Astrophysicist. B.S. (2003) University of Michigan; Ph.D. (2009) University of Wisconsin. Research specialties: research software engineering; plasma physics; heliophysics; magnetic reconnection; solar chromosphere; numerical simulation. Contact: NAMurphy@cfa.harvard.edu

Niembro-Hernandez, R. Tatiana, Astrophysicist. B.S. (2010) Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM; M.Sc. (2012), Ph.D. (2018) Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Autónoma de México, UNAM. Research specialties: Solar wind, coronal mass ejections, space weather. Contact: TNiembro@cfa.havard.edu

Nulsen, Paul E.J., Senior Astrophysicist. B.Sc. (1975) University of Western Australia; Ph.D. (1980) Cambridge University. Research specialties: X-ray astronomy; dynamics and gas dynamics; hot gas in galaxies and clusters; active galactic nuclei. Contact: PNulsen@cfa.harvard.edu

O’Sullivan, Ewan, Astrophysicist. M.Phys. (1998) University of Southampton; Ph.D. (2002) University of Birmingham. Research specialties: Groups of Galaxies; Early-type Galaxies; Clusters of Galaxies; Feedback from supermassive black holes; X-ray Astronomy. Contact: EOsullivan@cfa.harvard.edu

Patnaude, Daniel, Astrophysicist. B.S. (1995) University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Ph.D. (2005) Dartmouth College. Research specialties: Supernova Remnants; ISM Studies; Cosmic Rays; X-ray Astronomy; Computational Physics; Accretion; Supernovae. Contact: DPatnaude@cfa.harvard.edu

Paulson, Kristoff, Astrophysicist. B.A. (2006) Colby College; Ph.D. (2018) University of New Hampshire. Research specialties: Solar wind transient magnetic structures, wave-particle interactions in thermal plasma near the Sun, plasma wave interactions in Earth's magnetosphere from in situ and ground observatories. Contact: kristoff.paulson@cfa.harvard.edu

Plucinksy, Paul P., Senior Astrophysicist. S.B. (1987) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ph.D. (1993) University of Wisconsin, Madison. Research specialties: Local X-ray background; supernova remnants; Interstellar Medium; Nearby Galaxies; X-ray detectors. Contact: PPlucinsky@cfa.harvard.edu

Randall, Scott W., Astrophysicist. B.A. (1997) Wesleyan University; M.S. (2000) University of Virginia; Ph.D. (2005) University of Virginia. Research specialties: Galaxy clusters and groups; X-ray astronomy; AGN feedback; physics of the intracluster medium; large scale structure; dark matter. Contact: srandall@cfa.harvard.edu

Reeves, Katharine, Senior Astrophysicist. B.A. (1996) Reed College; M.S. (1999) Northeastern University; Ph.D. (2006) University of New Hampshire. Research specialties: Modeling and data analysis of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Contact: KReeves@cfa.harvard.edu

Reid, Paul B., Senior Astrophysicist. B.A. (1975), M.A. (1977), Ph.D. (1982) Columbia University. Research specialties: X-ray optics. Contact: PReid@cfa.harvard.edu

Romaine, Suzanne E., Senior Physicist. B.S. (1974) Michigan State University; S.M. (1986) Harvard University; Ph.D. (1992) Boston University. Research specialties: fabrication and development of X-ray optics, multilayer coatings, thin film coatings; materials science of thin films. Contact: sromaine@cfa.harvard.edu

Saar, Steven H., Astrophysicist. B.A. (1980) Northwestern University; Ph.D. (1987) University of Colorado. Research specialties: Solar/stellar magnetic fields, dynamos, and related activity; stellar rotation, convection, and surface features; detection of extrasolar planets. Contact: SSaar@cfa.harvard.edu

Samra, Jenna, Astrophysicist. B.S. (2006); M.S. (2008) Pennsylvania State University; Ph.D. (2018) Harvard University. Research specialties: Development of solar & atmospheric instrumentation, optical design, modeling, & alignment, solar coronal magnetometry, infrared detector characterization, sensor calibration, control system design. Contact: jsamra@cfa.harvard.edu

Schwartz, Daniel A., Senior Physicist. B.S. (1963) Washington University (St. Louis); M.S. (1966); Ph.D. (1969) University of California, San Diego. Research specialties: X-ray astronomy; X-ray astrometry using gravitational lenses; Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and Extragalactic Jets; Observational Cosmology; X-ray mirror, detector, and observatory instrumentation. Contact: dschwartz@cfa.harvard.edu

Siemigionowska, Aneta L., Senior Astrophysicist. M.S. (1985) University of Warsaw; Ph.D. (1991) Copernicus Astronomical Center, Poland. Research specialties: Physics of Active Galaxies and Quasars. Evolution of Radio Galaxies. X-ray emission associated with relativistic outflows. Contact: asiemiginowska@cfa.harvard.edu

Slane, Patrick O.,  Senior Astrophysicist; Director, Chandra X-ray Center. B.S.E. (1977) University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; M.S. (1983) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Ph.D. (1988) University of Wisconsin-Madison. Research specialties: Galactic X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy; supernova remnants; pulsar wind nebula; young neutron stars. Contact: pslane@cfa.harvard.edu

Slavin, Jonathan David, Astrophysicist. B.S. (1984) Georgetown University; Ph.D. (1990) University of Wisconsin. Research specialties: Theories of the interstellar medium (ISM), especially local ISM (including our local interstellar cloud) and interactions of hot gas and cooler gas; supernova remnant (SNR) evolution; interstellar dust; X-ray, ultraviolet and infrared observations of SNRs and the hot ISM; intracluster medium in rich clusters. Contact: JSlavin@cfa.harvard.edu

Starikova, Svetlana, Astrophysicist. Ph.D. (2011) University of Padova, Italy. Research specialties: extragalactic observational astrophysics. Contact: svetlana.starikova@cfa.harvard.edu

Steiner, James F., Astrophysicist. B.S. (2006) Ohio University; Ph.D. (2012) Harvard University. Research specialties: X-ray binary systems; black holes, especially spin, jets, spectroscopy, and X-ray timing; optical and infrared photometry and spectroscopy of binary systems; X-ray detector physics. Contact: jsteiner@cfa.harvard.edu

Stevens, Michael, Astrophysicist. B.A. (2002) Cornell University; Ph.D. (2009) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Plasma astrophysics, solar physics, space physics. Contact: mstevens@cfa.harvard.edu

Tananbaum, Harvey D., Senior Astrophysicist; B.A. (1964) Yale University; Ph.D. (1968) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: X-ray astronomy; quasars. Contact: HTananbaum@cfa.harvard.edu

Testa, Paola, Astrophysicist. Laurea in Physics (2001), PhD (2005) University of Palermo. Research specialties: Solar and stellar coronal physics; stellar magnetic activity; modeling of coronal loops; X-ray astronomy. Contact:  PTesta@cfa.harvard.edu

Tremblay, Grant, Astrophysicist. B.S. (2006) University of Rochester; Ph.D. (2011) Rochester Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Supermassive Black Holes, Galaxy Evolution, Large Space Astrophysics Mission Development. Contact: grant.tremblay@cfa.harvard.edu

Vikhlinin, Alexey A., Senior Astrophysicist. B.S. (1993) Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology; Ph.D. (1995) Russian Space Research Institute. Research specialties: X-ray astronomy; clusters of galaxies. Contact:  Avikhlinin@cfa.harvard.edu

Vrtilek, Jan M., Senior Astrophysicist. B.A. (1975) University of Wisconsin; A.M. (1976), Ph.D. (1983) Harvard University. Research specialties: Clusters and groups of galaxies; X-ray astronomy; astronomical instrumentation. jvrtilek@cfa.harvard.edu

Wargelin, Bradford, Astrophysicist. S.B. (1985) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ph.D. (1993) University of California, Berkeley. Research specialties: Solar- and stellar-wind charge exchange X-ray emission; stellar magnetic activity cycles; stellar coronae and flares; high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy. Contact: Bwargelin@cfa.harvard.edu

Weber, Mark, Astrophysicist. B.S. (1991) Harvey Mudd College; M.S. (1995), Ph.D. (1999) Montana State University. Research specialties: Coronal differential rotation; large-scale structure of corona; magnetic loop models; variation of solar neutrino flux. Contact: MWeber@cfa.harvard.edu

Wolk, Scott J., Senior Astrophysicist. A.B. (1988) Cornell University; Ph.D. (1996) State University of New York, Stony Brook. Research specialties: Spacecraft operations, Multiwavelength studies of regions of star formation; Evolution of young stars; Stellar flares; Stellar disks; Brown dwarfs; X-ray astronomy; X-ray studies of exoplanets, planets and comets; Next generation of X-ray telescopes. Contact: SWolk@cfa.harvard.edu

Xie, Xiaoyan, Astrophysicist (Postdoctoral Fellow). Ph.D. (2022) University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Research specialties: solar flares. Contact: Xiaoyan.Xie@cfa.harvard.edu

ZuHone, John A., Astrophysicist. B.S. (2002) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Ph.D. (2009) University of Chicago. Research specialties: magnetohydrodynamics simulations and X-ray observations of clusters of galaxies; development of software for astrophysical research. Contact: jzuhone@cfa.harvard.edu

Affiliated Research Staff

Evans, Nancy R., Astrophysicist. B.A. (1966) Wellesley College; M.Sc. (1969), Ph.D. (1974) University of Toronto. Research specialties: Cepheid masses and luminosities; binary stars (star formation); visual and ultraviolet observations of intermediate mass stars; X-ray observations of star clusters.  Contact: nevans@cfa.harvard.edu

Grindlay, Jonathan E., Robert Treat Paine Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University. A.B. (1966) Dartmouth College; A.M. (1969), Ph.D. (1971) Harvard University. Research specialties: High energy astrophysics; X-ray observations and models of compact Objects in binaries in globular clusters; active galaxies; gamma-ray bursts; development of hard X-ray imaging detectors and telescopes; time domain astrophysics and surveys. Contact: JGrindlay@cfa.harvard.edu

Karovska Neily, Margarita, Astrophysicist. Ph.D. (1984) Universite de Nice. Research specialties: Late-spectral- type stars; interacting binaries; AGN; multiwavelength high angular resolution imaging, and interferometry; X-ray astronomy; solar corona. Contact: MKarovska@cfa.harvard.edu

Kenter, Almus, Astrophysicist. B.S. (1982) Columbia University; M.S. (1984), Ph.D. (1989) University of Wisconsin. Research specialties: X-ray detector and instrumentation development; X-ray astronomy of compact objects; TeV gamma-ray astronomy and detector technology. Contact: Akenter@cfa.harvard.edu

Machacek, Marie Esther, Astrophysicist. B.A. (1969) Coe College; M.S. (1970) University of Michigan; Ph.D. (1973) University of Iowa. Research specialties: Galaxy interactions and evolution; X-ray studies of hot gas in galaxies, clusters, and groups. Contact: MMachacek@cfa.harvard.edu

Mattison, Edward M., Physicist. B.S. (1963) Queens College of the City University of New York; Ph.D. (1974) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Hydrogen masers; high-stability frequency standards. Contact: Emattison@cfa.harvard.edu

Nichols, Joy S., Astrophysicist. B.A. (1968), M.S. (1970) Northwestern University; Ph.D. (1992) University of Amsterdam. Research specialties: Winds of massive stars; high-energy plasma physics; high resolution X-ray spectroscopy; variable stars. Contact: jnichols@cfa.harvard.edu

Rots, Arnold H., Astrophysicist. B.Sc. (1967), M.Sc. (1971), Ph.D. (1974) University of Groningen, Netherlands. Research specialties: Interstellar medium in extended galaxies; dynamics of galaxies; study of pulsars, in particular timing; data analysis algorithms; time keeping; data archives; Virtual Observatory. Contact: ARots@cfa.harvard.edu

Seward, Frederick D., Astrophysicist. A.B. (1953) Princeton University; Ph.D. (1958) University of Rochester. Research specialties: X-ray astronomy; Supernova remnants; Neutron Stars. Contact: fseward@cfa.harvard.edu

Smith, Randall K., Associate Director for Science, Senior Astrophysicist. B.S. (1991) Carnegie Mellon University; Ph.D. (1996) University of Wisconsin. Research specialties: X-ray Astronomy: Interstellar Medium, Interstellar Dust, Galaxy Clusters; Atomic Physics: Theoretical Calculations, X-ray Spectroscopy.  Contact: rsmith@cfa.harvard.edu

Vrtilek, Saeqa Dil, Senior Astrophysicist. B.S. (1975) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.A. (1979) Brandeis University; Ph.D. (1985), M.Phil. (1985) Columbia University. Research specialties: Optical tomography of X-ray binaries; physics of accretion disks and jets; multiwavelength studies of X-ray binaries and planetary nebulae; science education/public outreach; 3d modeling and classification of XRBs. Contact: svrtilek@cfa.harvard.edu

Zhao, Ping, Astrophysicist. B.S. (1981) Peking University; Ph.D. (1986) Yale University. Research specialties: High Energy Astrophysics: X-ray telescopes and their mirrors; multi-wavelength studies of X-ray binaries; black holes; neutron stars; Atomic physics: atomic beams; laser physics; high precision measurements. Contact: PZhao@cfa.harvard.edu

Optical and Infrared Astronomy

Research in this division spans extragalactic and galactic astronomy, with special emphases on cosmology, the large-scale structure of the universe, cosmic gamma-ray sources, clusters of galaxies,  clusters of stars, the halo of our galaxy, and the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. Observations are made from orbiting observatories including the Hubble Space Telescope, the JWST Space Telescope, and ground based observatories such as the MMT, Magellan, and FLWO. SAO/CfA astronomers were the first to uncover the large-scale structure of the distribution of galaxies in space and the acceleration of the Universe. Division scientists have also led the exploration of the very high energy (TeV) gamma-ray universe using atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. OIR scientists are active in the development of both advanced optical and infrared instruments for existing ground-based facilities, and instruments for space. SAO is a team member of the NASA’s MIDEX SPHEREx mission, and continued to develop plans for this space-based telescope to conduct four all-sky infrared spectral surveys. OIR also operates the next generation of large optical/infrared telescopes, including the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). The GMT is a 25-m telescope with seven 8.4-m primary segments, six of which have already been cast, two of these now polished and figured to specifications and the third is completing final tests.  SAO is leading the development of three GMT instruments, the G-CLEF high dispersion/precision radial velocity spectrograph, the Acquisition, Guiding, and Wavefront control system for the first light spectrograph, and GMACS, a low/moderate dispersion spectrograph along with its primary mirror phasing system. Division scientists are developing concepts for next generation space satellite missions.

Research Staff

Ashby, Matthew L. N., Astrophysicist. B.A. (1988) University of Colorado; M.S. (1991), Ph.D. (1995)  Cornell University. Research specialties: Infrared properties of nearby and distant galaxies; active galactic  nuclei; galaxy evolution; radiative transfer. Contact: mashby@cfa.harvard.edu

Benbow, Wystan, Astrophysicist, VERITAS. B.S. (1996) University of Iowa; M.S. (1998) University of California, Santa Cruz; Ph.D. (2002) University of California, Santa Cruz. Research specialties: Very-high-energy (E > 100 GeV) Gamma- ray Astronomy; Active Galactic Nuclei; PI of the VERITAS experiment (http://veritas.sao.arizona.edu); Member of the CTA experiment http://www.cta-observatory.org). Contact: wbenbow@cfa.harvard.edu

Brown, Warren R., Astrophysicist. B.S. (1995) University of Arizona; A.M. (1998), Ph.D. (2002) Harvard University. Research specialties: Hypervelocity stars; Merging white dwarf binaries; Stellar halo of the Milky Way; Optical and infrared instruments for ground-based telescopes. Contact: wbrown@cfa.harvard.edu

Caldwell, Nelson, Astronomer. B.A. (1976) University of South Florida; Ph.D. (1982) Yale University. Research specialties: M31; star clusters in galaxies; dwarf galaxies; star formation in galaxies.   Contact: ncaldwell@cfa.harvard.edu

Chilingarian, Igor, Astronomer, Telescope Data Center, Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division. M.Sc. (2003) Moscow State University, (Russia); Ph.D. (2006) University of Lyon-1, (France) and Moscow State University, (Russia). Research interests: Galaxy evolution; stellar populations; data archives; Virtual Observatory; astronomical data analysis. Contact: igor.chilingarian@cfa.harvard.edu

Daniel, Michael K., Physicist; VERITAS. M.Phys (1999) University of Leeds; Ph.D. (2002) University of Durham. Research specialties: instrumentation for ground-based gamma ray astronomy; astroparticle physics; fundamental physics; stellar intensity interferometry; atmospheric monitoring. Contact: michael.daniel@cfa.harvard.edu

Fabricant, Daniel G., Senior Physicist; B.S. (1974) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ph.D. (1978) Harvard University. Research specialties: Galaxy clusters; galaxy evolution; large-scale structure; instrumentation for optical and infrared astronomy. Contact: dfabricant@cfa.harvard.edu

Falco-Acosta, Emilio, Astronomer. B.S., M.S. (1983), Ph.D. (1986) Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Research specialties: Observational cosmology; estimation of cosmological parameters and studies of galaxy evolution; searches for and studies of gravitational lenses in all-sky surveys; searches  for extrasolar planets. Contact:  efalco@cfa.harvard.edu

Fazio, Giovanni G., Senior Physicist. B.S. (1954), B.A. (1954) St. Mary’s University, Texas; Ph.D. (1959) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Infrared astronomy, including satellite and  ground-based observations using infrared array cameras; the early universe; star formation and evolution; brown dwarfs; and ultraluminous galaxies. Contact: gfazio@cfa.harvard.edu

Fortin, Pascal, Physicist, Site Director, Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. B. Sc. (1999) McGill University; PhD (2005) McGill University. Research specialties: Active galactic nuclei; gamma-ray astronomy; astroparticle physics. Contact:  pafortin@cfa.harvard.edu

Geller, Margaret, Senior Astronomer. A.B. (1970) University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D. (1975)  Princeton University; DSHC (1995) Connecticut College; DSHC (1997) Gustavus Adolphus College; DSHC   (2000) University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth); DSHC (2009) Colby College; DSHC (2009) Universitat  Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona, Spain); DSHC (2014) Dartmouth College; DSHC (2017) University of Turin (Italy). Research specialties: Extragalactic astronomy and cosmology; mapping the universe; the formation and history of galaxies like the Milky Way; matter distribution in the universe; structure of the Milky Way; black holes and hypervelocity stars. Contact: mgeller@cfa.harvard.edu

Hora, Joseph L., Astronomer;  B.A. (1985) Northwestern University; Ph.D. (1991) University of Arizona. Research specialties: Infrared astronomy; infrared instrumentation; star formation; planetary nebulae.  Contact: jhora@cfa.harvard.edu

Hughes, Gareth, Astrophysicist, VERITAS. M.Phys (2003) University of Manchester, UK; Ph.D. (2009) Rutgers University. Research specialties: Very-high-energy (E > 100 GeV) Gamma-ray Astronomy; Active Galactic Nuclei. Deputy Operations Manager for the VERITAS experiment (http://veritas.sao.arizona.edu); Member of the CTA experiment (http://www.cta-observatory.org). Contact: gareth.hughes@cfa.harvard.edu

Kurtz, Michael J., Senior Astronomer. B.A. (1977) San Francisco State University; Ph.D. (1982) Dartmouth College. Research specialties: Observational cosmology; galaxy photometry and spectroscopy; image-processing techniques; numerical classification methods; scientific information systems; digital libraries.   Contact: mkurtz@cfa.harvard.edu

Lacasse, Marc G., Engineer/Instrument Support Scientist. B.A. (1976) Dartmouth College; M.A. (1978), Ph.D. (1984) University of Rochester. Research specialties: Instrument support, astronomical spectroscopy & imaging, interferometry; image reconstruction; light scattering; polarization. Contact: mlacasse@cfa.harvard.edu

Melnick, Gary J., Senior Astronomer, Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. B.S. (1974) Cornell University; M.S. (1979) Cornell University; Ph.D. (1980) Cornell University. Research specialties: Star and planet formation, astrochemistry, instrumentation for airborne, balloon, and space-based infrared and submillimeter astronomy. Contact: gmelnick@cfa.harvard.edu

McLeod, Brian A., Astronomer. B.A. (1988) Cornell University; Ph.D. (1994) University of Arizona. Research specialties: Optical and infrared instrumentation; gravitational lensing; galaxy evolution.  Contact: bmcLeod@cfa.harvard.edu

Moran, Sean M., IT Specialist; Instrument Support & Data Archive Scientist, Telescope Data Center, Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division. A.B. (2002) Harvard College; Ph.D. (2008) California Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Galaxy evolution; galaxy clusters; optical spectroscopy. Contact: smoran@cfa.harvard.edu

Paegert, Martin, IT-Specialist, Telescope Data Center (TDC), Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Masters of Physics (1995) at Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum (Germany); Ph.D. (2007) at Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum (Germany). Research specialties: astro-informatics, telescope automation, exoplanets, neural networks. Contact: martin.paegert@cfa.harvard.edu

Rhee, Jaehyon (Jay), Data Archive Scientist, Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. B.S. (1991) Yonsei University, (S. Korea); M.S. (1993) Yonsei University, (S. Korea); Ph.D. (2000) Michigan State University. Research specialties: stellar abundance analysis; old stellar clusters and populations; Galactic structure; astrostatistics. Contact: jrhee@cfa.harvard.edu

Smith, Howard A., Senior Astrophysicist. S.B. (1966), S.B. (2) (1966) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ph.D. (1976) University of California, Berkeley. Research specialties: Galactic and extragalactic star formation; infrared spectroscopy; instrumentation; education and public outreach activities. Contact: hsmith@cfa.harvard.edu

Tolls, Volker, Astronomer. Diploma (1988), Ph.D. (1992) University of Cologne. Research specialties: Design and test of radio telescope instrumentation, ground-based and spaceborne, millimeter-to- infrared astronomy; interstellar chemistry; planet detection and imaging; coronagraphic techniques.   Contact: vtolls@cfa.harvard.edu

Willner, Steven P., Astronomer. A.B. (1971) Harvard College; Ph.D. (1976) California Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Infrared observations of galaxies, both nearby and distant; Development of infrared instruments. Contact: swillner@cfa.harvard.edu

Affiliated Research Staff

Berger, Edo, Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University. B.S. (1999) University of California, Los Angeles; M.S. (2001) California Institute of Technology; Ph.D. (2004) California Institute of Technology. Research Specialties: observational time domain astrophysics, high-energy astrophysics. Contact: eberger@cfa.harvard.edu

Conroy, Charlie, Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University. B.A. (2005) UC Berkeley; Ph.D. (2010) Princeton University. Research specialties: Observational and theoretical galaxy evolution, stars and stellar populations. Contact: cconroy@cfa.harvard.edu

Eisenstein, Daniel J., Professor of Astronomy and Chairman of the Astronomy Department, Harvard University. A.B. (1992) Princeton University; A.M.  (1994), Ph. D. (1996) Harvard University. Research specialties: Theoretical and observational cosmology and galaxy evolution. Contact: deisenstein@cfa.harvard.edu

Radio and Geoastronomy

Research in the Radio and Geoastronomy Division includes investigations of diverse astrophysical phenomena and the development of new technologies for radio astronomy. Astronomical research areas include the cosmic microwave background, the epoch of reionization, the evolution of galaxies, the structure of the Milky Way, black holes, the formation of stars, the formation of planets in circumstellar disks, the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium, interstellar masers, and planets and comets in our Solar System. Division staff operate the Submillimeter Array (SMA), an eight-element interferometer sited on Maunakea, HI, for high-resolution observations of celestial objects at submillimeter wavelengths. Division staff also lead the Event Horizon Telescope that uses the SMA as a key station in very long baseline interferometry to directly image immediate environments of supermassive black holes.  In addition, SAO and Harvard together participate in the CMB-S4 next generation ground-based cosmic microwave background experiment, focusing on small aperture radio telescopes to constrain cosmic inflation. Other Division facilities include a small millimeter wavelength telescope in Cambridge, MA dedicated to mapping emission from molecular clouds in the Milky Way. Division staff make use of many major national and international radio telescopes, including the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, the NRAO Very Large Array and Very Long Baseline Array, the IRAM 30 meter Telescope and NOEMA interferometer, and the South Pole Telescope. Technology efforts focus on development of wideband submillimeter receivers and advances in digital signal processing.

Research Staff

Andrews, Sean M., Astrophysicist. B.A. (2001) Northwestern University; M.S. (2003), Ph.D. (2007) University of Hawaii. Research specialties: circumstellar disks, planet formation, aperture synthesis observations, radiative transfer modeling. Contact: SAndrews@cfa.harvard.edu

Blackburn, Lindy, Radio Astronomer and Event Horizon Telescope Data Scientist. University of Chicago, A.B. (2003), Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ph.D. (2010). Research specialties: Black holes and experimental general relativity, high frequency radio interferometry, gravitational-waves, statistical methods and modeling, large-scale data analysis. Contact: lblackburn@cfa.harvard.edu

Blundell, Raymond, Director, Submillimeter Array. B.S. (1974), Ph.D. (1980) University of Leeds. Research specialties: Millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave techniques and instrumentation for radio- astronomy; THz spectral line astronomy. Contact: RBlundell@cfa.harvard.edu

Dame, Thomas M., Senior Radio Astronomer. B.A. (1976) Boston University; M.A. (1978), Ph.D. (1983) Columbia University. Research specialties: Molecular clouds and star formation; galactic structure. Contact: TDame@cfa.harvard.edu

Doeleman, Sheperd, Founding Director, Event Horizon Telescope, Event Horizon Telescope. B.A. (1986) Reed College; Ph.D. (1995); Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Wideband instrumentation and systems for interferometry; ultra-high angular resolution observations of black hole to resolve and image the event horizon. Contact: sdoeleman@cfa.harvard.edu

Greenhill, Lincoln J., Radio Astronomer. B.S. (1984) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.A. (1985), Ph.D. (1990) Harvard University. Research specialties: Cosmology–the epoch of reionization (instrumentation/observation), extragalactic distance scale; AGN–structures < 1 pc from supermassive black holes; high-mass star formation–innermost 1000 AU; late-type stars-circumstellar shells; masers. Contact:  LGreenhill@cfa.harvard.edu

Grimes, Paul K., Physicist. B.A. (2001), M.Sc. (2001), Ph.D. (2006) University of Cambridge. Research specialties:  Millimeter and submillimeter receivers for radio astronomy; Cosmic Microwave Background instrumentation; superconducting detectors, cryogenics and millimeter-wave optics and testing. Contact: PGrimes@cfa.harvard.edu

Gurwell, Mark Andrew, Astrophysicist. Sc.B. (1990) University of Washington; Sc.M. (1992), Ph.D. (1996) California Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Milimeter/submillimeter-wave spectroscopy of planets and planetary atmospheres; planetary atmospheric evolution; KBO temperature and size measurements; interferometry; mm/submm observing techniques and absolute flux calibration; detection of high-z galaxies (‘submm galaxies’); long-term quasar monitoring. Contact: MGurwell@cfa.harvard.edu

Johnson, Michael D., Astrophysicist. B.A. (2007) University of Southern California; M.A. (2010), Ph.D. (2013) University of California, Santa Barbara. Research specialties: Black holes, the Event Horizon Telescope, radio interferometry, pulsars, interstellar propagation and scintillation. Contact: MJohnson@cfa.harvard.edu

Keating, Garrett K., Physicist. B.A. (2008), M.A. (2012), Ph.D. (2016) University of California, Berkeley. Research specialties: Radio astronomy and interferometry; galaxies in the early Universe; molecular gas; cosmological measurements with intensity mapping; realtime/automated processing and calibration of interferometric data. Contact:GKeating@cfa.harvard.edu

Lada, Charles J., Senior Astrophysicist. B.A. (1971) Boston University; Ph.D. (1975) Harvard University. Research specialties: Star formation in galaxies; dense molecular clouds; bipolar molecular outflows; protoplanetary disks, extremely young star clusters; interstellar medium; infrared and millimeter-wave observational astronomy. Contact:  CLada@cfa.harvard.edu

Myers, Philip C., Senior Astrophysicist. A.B. (1966) Columbia University; Ph.D. (1972) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Radio astronomy; physical processes in molecular clouds and star formation; interstellar molecules; molecular spectroscopy; protostars; gravitational infall and condensation; magnetic fields and turbulence; formation of groups and clusters. Contact: PMyers@cfa.harvard.edu

Natarajan, Iniyan, Astrophysicist. B.E. (2007) Anna University; Ph.D. (2017) University of Cape Town. Research specialties: Radio interferometry, the Event Horizon Telescope, black holes, Bayesian inference, statistical methods, data analysis. Contact: iniyan.natarajan@cfa.harvard.edu

Paine, Scott N., Senior Physicist. B.S. (1984) California Institute of Technology; Ph.D. (1992) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Atmospheric radiometry, spectroscopy, and radiative transfer modeling; radio meteorology and climatology of astronomical observing sites; millimeter- and submillimeter- wave instrumentation for radio astronomy and experimental cosmology; radio spectrum protection for scientific use. Contact: SPaine@cfa.harvard.edu

Patel, Nimesh A., Radio Astronomer and Project Engineer. M.Sc. (1984) Bombay University; Ph.D. (1990) Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Research specialties: Evolved stars; Molecular spectroscopy; Star formation; Astrophysical masers; Radio interferometry; Antenna pointing and metrology; instrumentation and software. Contact NPatel@cfa.harvard.edu

Pearlman, Michael R., Physicist. S.B. (1963) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ph.D. (1968) Tufts University; S.M. (1980) MIT Sloan School of Management. Research specialties: Laser ranging to satellites; application of space techniques to precision geodesy for Earth Science. Contact: MPearlman@cfa.harvard.edu

Pesce, Dominic W., Astrophysicist. B.A. (2012) Harvard College; M.S. (2014), Ph.D. (2018) University of   Virginia. Research specialties: astrophysical masers, black holes, cosmology, radio interferometry, statistical methods. Contact: dpesce@cfa.harvard.edu

Qi, Chunhua, Astrophysicist. B.S. (1995) Beijing University; Ph.D. (2001) California Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Protoplanetary disks; comets; interferometer software. Contact: CQi@cfa.harvard.edu

Reid, Mark J., Senior Radio Astronomer. B.A. (1971) University of California, San Diego; Ph.D. (1975) California Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Radio astronomy, including spectral-line very long-baseline interferometry; star formation; cosmic masers; active galactic nuclei and quasars; galactic structure and evolved stars. Contact: MReid@cfa.harvard.edu

Stark, Antony A., Senior Astronomer. B.S. (1975) California Institute of Technology; M.A. (1977), Ph.D. (1979) Princeton University. Research specialties: Antarctic astronomy; radio astronomical instrumentation; interstellar medium; galactic structure; cosmic background radiation; Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect observations; telescope control and data acquisition. Measurement of cosmological parameters and neutrino properties via observations of galaxy clusters discovered by the South Pole Telescope. Contact:  AStark@cfa.harvard.edu

Tiede, Paul, Physicist. B.A. (2015) University of Waterloo. M.A. (2017), Ph.D. (2021). Research specialties: Black holes, the Event Horizon Telescope, radio interferometry, Bayesian inference, statistical methods. Contact: paul.tiede@cfa.harvard.edu

Tong, Edward C., Engineer. B.Sc. (1983) University of Hong Kong; Ph.D. (1988) University of Joseph Fourier, Grenoble. Research specialties: Instrumentation for millimeter- and submillimeter-wave astronomy. Contact: ETong@cfa.harvard.edu

Weintroub, Jonathan, Electrical Engineer. B.Sc.(Eng) (1983), M.Sc.(Eng) (1986) University of Cape Town; Ph.D. (1998) Harvard University. Research specialties:  Astronomy digital signal processing (DSP);  Radioastronomy correlators and phased arrays for Submillimeter Array and ALMA; Astronomical masers; Instrumentation for the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). Contact: JWeintroub@cfa.harvard.edu

Wilner, David James, Associate Director, Radio and Geoastronomy Division, Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. A.B. (1987) Princeton University; Ph.D. (1993) University of California, Berkeley. Research specialties: Star and planet formation; protoplanetary disks and debris disks; aperture synthesis observations  and  interferometry  techniques. Contact: DWilner@cfa.harvard.edu

Wilson, Robert Woodrow, Senior Scientist, part time. B.A. (1957) Rice University; Ph.D. (1962) California Institute of  Technology.  Research  specialties:  Radio astronomy;  cosmic background;  millimeter and submillimeter spectroscopy; telescope  system design; submillimeter  synthesis; radio  communication. Contact: RWilson@cfa.harvard.edu

Zeng, Lingzhen, Physicist. B.A. (2005) University of Science and Technology, China; Ph.D. (2012) Johns Hopkins University. Research Specialties: Millimeter and submillimeter instrumentation and the interstellar medium. Contact: Lingzhen.Zeng@cfa.harvard.edu

Zhang, Qizhou, Senior Astrophysicist. M.S. (1993), Ph.D. (1996) Harvard University. Research Specialties: Molecular clouds and star formation; study of infall motions, disks, outflows, fragmentation and magnetic fields in star-forming regions. Contact: QZhang@cfa.harvard.edu

Zhao, Jun-Hui, Astrophysicist. B.S. (1982), M.S. (1985) Peking University; Ph.D. (1990) University of New Mexico. Research specialties: The Galactic center, dynamics of circum-nuclear disks, black holes, star formation, starbursts, AGNs, imaging techniques and interferometer software. Contact:  JZhao@cfa.harvard.edu

Affiliated Research Staff

Goodman, Alyssa A., Research Associate of SAO; Robert Wheeler Willson Professor of Applied Astronomy and Co-Director for Science at the Radcliffe Institute,  Harvard University; Founding Director of the Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing. Sc.B. (1984) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; A.M. (1986), Ph.D. (1989) Harvard University. Research specialties: Radio through optical observations of the interstellar medium and star formation; special interests in velocity structure, magnetic fields, polarimetry; Scientific Data Visualization and Data Science; Climate Change and the history of Prediction.  Contact: AGoodman@cfa.harvard.edu

Gottlieb, Carl, Astrophysicist. Sc.B. (1963) Lawrence College; Ph.D. (1969) University of Chicago. Research specialties: Laboratory astrophysics; interstellar molecules. Contact: CGottlieb@cfa.harvard.edu

Kovac, John M., Professor of Astronomy and of Physics at Harvard University. A.B. (1998) Princeton University; Ph.D. (2004) University of Chicago. Research Specialties: Experimental physics and cosmology. Observations of cosmic microwave background temperature and polarization anisotropies and their use to probe for evidence of Inflation, constrain cosmological parameters, map weak lensing, and study the evolution of structure. Cosmology using radio observations. Experimental techniques for measurements from radio to sub-mm wavelengths, including interferometry, bolometric detection, optics, and guided wave devices. Analysis methods for CMB and other cosmological datasets. Contact: jmkovac@cfa.harvard.edu

Moran, James M., Senior Radio Astronomer; Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University. B.S. (1963) University of Notre Dame; S.M. (1965), Ph.D. (1968) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Radio astronomy; very long-baseline interferometry; cosmic masers; star-formation studies; active galactic nuclei, black holes (especially the one in the center of the Milky Way). Contact: JMoran@cfa.harvard.edu

Shapiro, Irwin I., Senior Scientist Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution; Timken University Professor, Harvard University. A.B. (1950) Cornell University; A.M. (1951), Ph.D. (1955) Harvard University. Research specialties: Radio and radar techniques: applications to astrometry, astrophysics, geophysics, planetary physics, and tests of theories of gravitation; precollege and college science education: curriculum development and teacher training. Contact: IShapiro@cfa.harvard.edu

Science Education Department

The Science Education Department (SED) at the SAO in the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard &Smithsonian conducts fundamental research and creates products and programs designed to improve the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), in precollege classroom environments as well as museum and out-of-school learning settings. SED staff includes scientists and science educators, educational researchers, research methodologists, and education technology developers. Ongoing and recent major projects include: the research, development, and validation of misconception-based assessment instruments; research into identifying measurable factors that predict levels of achievement by students in both K-12 science and introductory college STEM courses, including massive open online courses (MOOCs); examination of professional development programs and their impact on teacher participants; research into identifying variables that predict persistence of students within the STEM pipeline, particularly for females and underrepresented minorities, and the development of science identity. SAO’s science education innovations have included: programs that integrate the CfA’s robotic telescopes and authentic inquiry into classroom, museum, and out-of-school learning environments; the development and evaluation of museum exhibitions and programs; and the creation of innovative curriculum and technology-based tools for STEM learning.

Research Staff

Dussault, Mary E., Instructional Systems Specialist, SAO. B.A. (1981) Wellesley College; M.L.A. (1993) Harvard University Extension School.  Research specialties: Science education; robotic telescopes; STEM teaching and learning in informal environments; professional development for out-of-school time and pre-college educators. Contact: mdussault@cfa.harvard.edu

Sadler, Philip M., Frances W. Wright Senior Lecturer on Celestial Navigation, Harvard University; Director, Science Education Department, Center for Astrophysics I Harvard & Smithsonian. B.S. (1973) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ed.M. (1974), Ed.D. (1992) Harvard University. Research specialties: Science education; children’s scientific misconceptions; remote telescopes; curriculum development; simulation software; celestial navigation; sundials; assessment; technology education; history of science;. high school to college transition, calculus,  computer science education, pedagogy, pre-college STEM education, MOOCs. Contact: psadler@cfa.harvard.edu

Sunbury, Susan E., Instructional Systems Specialist, SAO. B.A. (1986), Ed.D. (1994) Boston University; M. Ed., (1990) Lesley University. Research specialties: Museum exhibit and program research and evaluation; curriculum development; high school students’ scientific misconceptions; professional development for pre-college educators. Contact: ssunbury@cfa.harvard.edu

Wright, Erika A., Education Specialist, SAO. B.S. (2010) University of New Hampshire; M.A.T. (2013) George Washington University. Research specialties: Science education;  STEM teaching and learning in informal environments; STEM mentoring and internships; professional development for out-of-school time educators. Contact: erika.wright@cfa.harvard.edu

Affiliated Research Staff

Sonnert, Gerhard, Senior Research Scientist, Harvard University. M.A. (1982), Dr. phil. (1986) University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; M.P.A. (1988) Harvard University. Research specialties: Sociology of science, of gender, and of education; history of science; science education. Contact: gsonnert@cfa.harvard.edu

Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Sciences

Research in the SSP Division is directed toward understanding star and planet formation and the physical processes in the Sun, stars, and stellar systems. Division research on the Sun addresses its basic stellar properties, its atmosphere and corona, and its effects on the Earth. Studies of other stars seek to measure the age and chemical composition and to understand the structure of surrounding disks, magnetic fields, and winds. Searches for objects in our own solar system and for extra-solar planets inform theoretical investigations of star and planet formation and evolution. Observational data are obtained from ground-based observatories (such as the MMT Observatory, Magellan, and the Whipple Observatory) and from satellites including the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer, the JWST Space Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. SAO is responsible for orchestrating the follow-up observations needed to confirm and characterize the planet candidates identified by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), now in its fifth year of operation.  This work continued under the TESS Follow-up Observing Program Working Group, which has more than 600 members based at observatories all around the world, and SAO’s telescopes at the Whipple Observatory on Mount Hopkins in Arizona play a major role. A recent milestone passed in FY21-22 by the TESS mission was paper number 1000 published in a refereed journal.

Research Staff

Bieryla, Allyson, SSP, Astronomer. B.A. (2005) University of Colorado at Boulder; ALM (expected 2022) Harvard University Extension School. Research specialties: Observational astronomy with an interest in both photometry and spectroscopy. Detection and characterization of exoplanets. Contact: abieryla@cfa.harvard.edu

Brickhouse, Nancy Susan, Astrophysicist; Senior Science Advisor, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. B.S. (1977) University of North Carolina; Ph.D. (1984) University of Wisconsin. Research specialties: Plasma physics; solar and stellar coronae; plasma emission line spectroscopy; ultraviolet and X-ray spectroscopy of astrophysical sources; laboratory astrophysics. Contact: NBrickhouse@cfa.harvard.edu

Collins, Karen A., Astronomer. B.EE. (1984), M.EE. (1990) Georgia Institute of Technology; M.Sc. (2008), Ph.D. (2015) University of Louisville. Research specialties: Space and ground-based astronomical photometry; The search for and characterization of transiting exoplanets. NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. Contact: KCollins@cfa.harvard.edu

Dupree, Andrea K., Associate Director, SSP, Senior Astrophysicist. B.A. (1960) Wellesley College; Ph.D. (1968) Harvard University. Research specialties: Astronomical spectroscopy; theory of solar and stellar atmospheres and spectra; stellar chromospheres and coronae; mass loss and stellar winds. Contact: ADupree@cfa.harvard.edu

Gingerich, Owen, Senior Astronomer Emeritus; Professor of Astronomy and the History of Science Emeritus, Harvard University. B.A. (1951) Goshen College; M.A. (1953), Ph.D. (1962) Harvard University. Research specialties: History of astronomy, especially the sixteenth to twentieth centuries. Contact: Ogingerich@cfa.harvard.edu

Holman, Matthew J., Senior Astrophysicist.  S.B. (1989) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mathematics, Ph.D. (1994) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Planetary Sciences, S.M. (2018) Harvard University, Computational Science and Engineering. Research Specialties: solar system dynamics, observational searches for small bodies in the solar system, exoplanets, algorithm development. Contact: mholman@cfa.harvard.edu

Kenyon, Scott J., Senior Astrophysicist. B.S. (1978) Arizona State University; M.S. (1979), Ph.D. (1983) University of Illinois. Research specialties: Numerical calculations of planet formation; structure of debris disks; the formation and evolution of single and multiple stars; accretion disks. Contact: SKenyon@cfa.harvard.edu

Korzennik, Sylvain G., Physicist. Degree of Engineering (1977) Free University of Brussels; Ph.D. (1990) University of California, Los Angeles. Research specialties: Astronomy; solar physics; helioseismology; astroseismology; extrasolar planets. Contact: SKorzennik@cfa.harvard.edu

Latham, David W., S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1961), Ph.D. Harvard University (1970); The search for and characterization of exoplanets, binary and multiple star characteristics of various stellar populations in the Galaxy, the chemical and kinematical history of the Galaxy, telescopes and instrumentation, NASA’s Kepler mission, NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. Contact: DLatham@cfa.harvard.edu

Macleod, Morgan, SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellow, SSP. B.A. (2010) Bowdoin College; M.S. (2012) University of CA, Santa Cruz; Ph.D. (2016) University of CA, Santa Cruz. Research specialties: Dynamic encounters of stars and compact objects in dense clusters and binary systems, with particular focus on the evolutionary channels that lead to the formation of close binaries. Contact: DLatham@cfa.harvard.edu

Miralles, Mari Paz, Astrophysicist. M.Sc. (1989), Ph.D. (1993) Complutense University of Madrid. Research specialties: Solar physics: solar corona, ultraviolet spectroscopy of solar-wind source regions; star formation: radio astronomy, molecular clouds, OB stars, ultracompact H II regions, infrared imaging and spectroscopy.  Contact: MMiralles@cfa.harvard.edu

Pan, Margaret, MPC Astronomer. Margaret received her BS in physics and astrophysics at MIT (2001) and her PhD at Caltech (2006).  Margaret’s research focuses on planetary dynamics and its applications in solar system and exoplanetary contexts. Her project topics have included the Kuiper belt, debris disks, mean motion resonances, planetary rings, exoplanet eccentricities, and planet formation. She has also worked on self-similar solutions for relativistic shock propagation. Margaret joined the MPC in September 2019 as an astronomer.  Contact: margaret.pan@cfa.harvard.edu

Payne, Matthew J., MPC Acting Director. Matt received an MPhys in Physics (2001) from the University of Oxford, and then later earned a Masters in Maths (2004) and a PhD in Astronomy (2009) from the University of Cambridge.  Research Specialties: Matt has worked at the MPC since 2017. He was MPC’s project scientist from 2018 to February 2021. He is now the MPC’s Acting Director. He then worked in post-doc positions at the University of Florida and the Smithsonian before starting work at the MPC. Matt’s research interests relate to the dynamics of both solar system objects and exoplanets, as well as to the processing of large data sets from all-sky surveys such as TESS, Pan-STARRS and the VRO-LSST.  Contact: mpayne@cfa.harvard.edu

Pike, Rosemary, MPC Astronomer. She received a B.Sc. from MIT in 2007, and worked at Gemini Observatory as a Science Operations Specialist until 2011. She earned her PhD from the University of Victoria in 2016. Rosemary has been an Astronomer at the MPC since January, 2020. She was a postdoctoral fellow at Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics until moving to the MPC. Rosemary’s research interests include the orbital distribution and surface properties of trans-Neptunian objects, and what these properties reveal about the formation and evolution of the Solar System.  Contact: rosemary.pike@cfa.harvard.edu          

Raymond, John C., Astrophysicist. B.A. (1970), Ph.D. (1976) University of Wisconsin, Madison. Research specialties: Supernova remnants; solar physics; cataclysmic variables. Contact: JRaymond@cfa.harvard.edu

Spoto, Federica, MPC Astronomer. She received an M.Sc. in Mathematics (2010) and Ph.D in Mathematics (2015) from the University of Pisa, Italy with a thesis entitled “The Yarkovsky effect, Asteroid Dynamics and Impact Monitoring”. Federica has worked at the MPC since February 2020 as an astronomer. Federica worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Nice Observatory (2015-2017 and 2018-2020) and at the Paris Observatory (2017-2018). She is a member of the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) and she is also the responsible for the validation of Solar System observations for the ESA Gaia mission. Federica’s research focuses on the study of asteroid families to understand the evolution of the solar system and chaotic orbit determination. Contact: federica.spoto@cfa.harvard.edu           

Szentgyorgyi, Andrew H., B.S. (1979) S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook, M.S. (1983), Ph.D. (1986)  University of Wisconsin, Madison. Research specialties: exoplanets, stellar astronomy, precision radial velocity surveys; high dispersion spectroscopy; instrumentation. Contact: ASzentgyorgyi@cfa.harvard.edu

Torres, Guillermo, Astronomer, Astronomy Licentiate (1981); Ph.D. (1991) National University of Cordoba, Argentina. Research Specialties: Searches for and characterization of transiting extrasolar planets; binary stars; tests of stellar evolution models. Contact: gtorres@cfa.harvard.edu

Veres, Peter, MPC Astronomer. He received M.Sc. in Physics (2006) and Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2010) from Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Peter has worked at the MPC since 2017 as an astronomer. His research interests are discovery of asteroids and comets, physical and dynamical properties of asteroids and meteors, and simulations of asteroid surveys. He co-discovered thousands of minor planets with Pan-STARRS, worked on LSST simulations on discovery efficiency of NEOs.   . Peter worked as a research scientist as Comenius University (2010,2014), as Postdoctoral Fellow within Pan-STARRS project at University of Hawaii (2011-2014), as a Caltech Postdoctoral Scholar at Center for NEO Studies in Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2015-2017). Contact: peter.veres@cfa.harvard.edu

Yee, Jennifer C., SSP, Astrophysicist. B.A. (2007) Swarthmore College; Ph.D. (2013) The Ohio State University. Research specialties: microlensing; exoplanet discovery; exoplanet populations. Contact: jyee@cfa.harvard.edu

Affiliated Research Staff

Charbonneau, David B., Thomas D. Cabot Associate Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University. Hons B.Sc. (1996) University of Toronto; A.M (1999), Ph.D. (2001) Harvard University. Research specialties: Detection and characterization of planets orbiting nearby stars; design and implementation of automated telescopes for photometric monitoring. Contact: DCharbonneau@cfa.harvard.edu

Johnson, John A., Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University. B.S. (2000) Physics Missouri University of Science and Technology, M.A. (2002) Astronomy UC Berkeley, Ph.D. (2007) Astronomy UC Berkeley. Research specialties: detection and characterization of planets orbiting nearby stars; stellar astrophysics; design and implementation of robotic telescopes for highly precise radial velocity monitoring of bright stars.  Contact: jjohnson@cfa.harvard.edu

Kurucz, Robert L., Research Associate. A.B. (1966) Harvard College; Ph.D. (1973) Harvard University. Research specialties: Radiative transfer; stellar atmospheres; solar physics; atomic and molecular spectroscopy. Contact: RKurucz@cfa.harvard.edu

Öberg, Karin I., Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University. B.Sc. (2005) California Institute of Technology, Ph.D. (2009) Leiden University. Research specialties: Astrochemistry; laboratory astrophysics; molecular processes during star and planet formation. Contact: KOberg@cfa.harvard.edu

Sasselov, Dimitar, Professor, Harvard University. M.Sc. (1986), Ph.D. (1988) University of Sofia; Ph.D. (1990) University of Toronto. Research specialties: Stellar pulsation; radiation hydrodynamics; stellar spectroscopy; extrasolar planets. Contact: dsasselov@cfa.harvard.edu