Dr. Matthew Colless

Biography

Matthew Colless is a Distinguished Professor at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Australian National University, where he has held several key positions including Director from 2013 to 2022. He earned his BSc from the University of Sydney and his PhD from the University of Cambridge. Colless has had research fellowships at prominent institutions such as the University of Durham and the Kitt Peak National Observatory, and he served as Director of the Australian Astronomical Observatory from 2004 to 2012. His research focuses on observational cosmology using large spectroscopic surveys to understand the formation and evolution of galaxies, the mapping of large-scale structures and motions within the universe, and the measurement of cosmological parameters. Colless is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has been recognized with multiple honors, having previously served as Vice-President of the International Astronomical Union and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2023 for his distinguished service to scientific research in astronomy and astrophysics. His research interests include large-scale structure of the universe, galaxy evolution, and astronomical instrumentation.

Research Interests