Dr. Lynne Hillenbrand

Biography

Lynne Hillenbrand is a Professor of Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology. She earned her A.B. from Princeton University in 1989, followed by M.S. in the same year, and a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts in 1995. Her career at Caltech began as an Assistant Professor from 2000 to 2006, then became an Associate Professor from 2006 to 2010, and was promoted to Professor in 2010. Additionally, she served as the Executive Officer from 2007 to 2012. Hillenbrand's research focuses on young stars and exoplanets, studying how stars form within dense molecular clouds and subsequently evolve. Her work employs multi-wavelength imaging and high-resolution spectroscopy to understand young stellar populations and the evolution of dusty gaseous disks. She is particularly interested in the nature of young stellar clusters, their shapes and sizes, and the processes that govern star formation. Her investigation into proto-planetary disks includes studying their structure, mass, and the dynamics of planet formation. Hillenbrand actively collaborates with undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, fostering a diverse group of individuals united by their investigative interests in stellar evolution.

Research Interests