Dr. Risa Wechsler

Biography

Risa Wechsler serves as the Director of the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) and is a Professor in the Physics Department at Stanford University. Her work as a cosmologist investigates profound questions about the universe, including its formation, structure, and future. Wechsler's research primarily focuses on understanding the evolution of galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe, as well as the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Utilizing large numerical simulations and theoretical models, she explores the forces that shape the cosmos, complemented by the largest observed maps of the universe. Recent investigations have included studying the formation of the Milky Way within a cosmological context and probing dark matter through small-scale cosmic structures while leveraging data science and AI/ML to drive new understandings. Wechsler has played key leadership roles in several major international collaborations, including the Dark Energy Survey, Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, and Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time, which aim to reveal the dynamic characteristics of the universe in unprecedented detail. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Research Interests