Dr. Risa Wechsler

Biography

Risa Wechsler is the Director of the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology and a Professor of Physics. Her research as a cosmologist investigates profound questions about the universe, focusing on the understanding of galaxy evolution, the large-scale structure of the universe, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Wechsler employs large numerical simulations, theoretical models, and extensive observational data to explore the forces that shape cosmos, including recent work on the formation of the Milky Way in the context of cosmology. She also utilizes data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to drive new understandings. Wechsler has played key leadership roles in major international collaborations, including the Dark Energy Survey and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, and has been actively involved in mapping the Milky Way to probe dark matter physics in innovative ways. Additionally, she has been elected to prestigious organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

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