Dr. Anna Frebel

Professor

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Biography

Anna Frebel is a Professor and Head of the Astrophysics Division at the MIT Kavli Institute. Her research primarily focuses on observational astronomy and the discovery of the oldest stars in the Milky Way, as well as the satellites and dwarf galaxies surrounding it. Utilizing the 6.5-m Magellan telescopes in Chile, she conducts observational research that has led to significant discoveries and spectroscopic analyses of ancient, metal-poor stars, estimated to be 12-13 billion years old. Frebel's research interests encompass the chemical and physical conditions of the early universe, exploring metal-deficient stars to obtain clues and constraints regarding stellar initial mass functions, supernova yields, metal mixing, and the origins of heavy elements associated with stellar nucleosynthesis processes from the early universe. Her expertise spans across stellar archaeology and near-field cosmology, providing insights into the formation and evolution of the Galaxy. Frebel received her PhD from the Australian National University’s Mt. Stromlo Observatory in 2007, followed by postdoctoral positions as a WJ McDonald Fellow in Austin, TX, and a Clay Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian. She has received numerous accolades, including the 2010 Annie Jump Cannon Award, the 2013 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, and recognition as one of ScienceNews Magazine’s “Ten Scientists to Watch” in 2016. In 2022, she was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society for her pioneering contributions to the study of low-metallicity stars. Frebel has authored over 160 papers in refereed journals, and she engages in public outreach through lectures, magazine articles, and her popular science book, “Searching for the Oldest Stars: Ancient Relics of the Early Universe.” As an educator, she leads a leadership program for graduate students and postdocs at MIT addressing academic challenges and preparing emerging scientists for their careers.

Research Interests