Dr. Ashley Villar

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Ashley Villar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2014, followed by a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics from Harvard University in 2020. Before joining Harvard in 2023, Villar was a Simons Junior Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University from 2020 to 2021, and a faculty member at Penn State University from 2021 to 2023. Her research primarily focuses on theoretical observational studies of extragalactic transients, including core-collapse supernovae and kilonovae. Additionally, she is involved in developing statistical deep learning methodologies for wide-field surveys, particularly those related to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time and the Nancy Grace Roman Observatory.

Research Interests

Experience

Simons Junior Postdoctoral Fellow

— Present

Columbia University • New York, NY

Conducted research in theoretical astrophysics.

Faculty Member

— Present

Penn State University • University Park, PA

Engaged in teaching and research activities in astronomy.

Assistant Professor

— Present

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

Currently teaching and conducting research in astronomy.

Requirements for Harvard University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a technical or quantitative field
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).