Dr. Christopher Mckee

Professor

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Biography

Chris McKee received his Ph.D. in Physics from UC Berkeley in 1970. After a brief stay at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, he spent a year as a postdoc at Caltech. He then held a position as an assistant professor of astronomy at Harvard for several years before joining the Departments of Physics and Astronomy at Berkeley in 1974. He served as the Director of the Theoretical Astrophysics Center from 1985 and directed the Space Sciences Laboratory from 1985 to 1998. McKee was the Henry Norris Russell Lecturer of the American Astronomical Society in 2016 and was appointed a Legacy Fellow of the Society in 2020. He is also a Miller Professor and Guggenheim Fellow. His research interests include the formation of stars from the diffuse interstellar medium in galaxies, highlighting the complex physical processes involved and the nonlinear interactions present. He focuses on star formation, the conditions affecting it, and the influence of magnetic fields, primarily dealing with massive stars and their feedback mechanisms in star clusters.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor Emeritus

1974-01-01 — Present

University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA

Joined the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, focusing on theoretical astrophysics.

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.