Dr. Andrea Ghez

Biography

Andrea M. Ghez is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and holds the Lauren B. Leichtman & Arthur E. Levine Chair in Astrophysics. She is widely regarded as a leading expert in observational astrophysics and is the head of UCLA's Galactic Center Group. Ghez's groundbreaking research has provided critical evidence for the existence of supermassive black holes, most notably at the center of our galaxy. For her significant contributions to the field, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020, becoming the fourth woman to receive this honor in this category. Ghez's work, which involves studying the orbits of stars near the Milky Way's galactic center, has opened new methodologies for understanding black holes and their roles in galaxy formation and evolution. Additionally, she has been recognized with numerous accolades including the Crafoord Prize in Astronomy from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the MacArthur Fellowship. Ghez is also an advocate for science communication and aims to inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. She has made notable public contributions through platforms such as TED and PBS.

Research Interests

Experience