Faculty

Physics faculty in the UCSD Astronomy Ph.D. program pursue cutting-edge research at all scales of the Universe through instrumentation, observation, simulation, and theory.

Kam Arnold
Associate Professor Kam Arnold develops technology for the next generation of detectors and telescopes to measure the intensity and polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background.
Steven Boggs
Professor Steven Boggs specializes in high-energy experimental astrophysics. Professor Boggs is currently serving as the Dean of the Physical Sciences.
Adam Burgasser
Professor Adam Burgasser applies observational techniques to discovering and characterizing the lowest-mass stars, brown dwarfs, and extrasolar planets.
Alison Coil
Professor Alison Coil is an observational astrophysics that specializes in understanding galaxy formation and evolution. Professor Coil is the Associate Dean for EDI in the Physical Sciences.
Patrick Diamond

Distinguished Professor Pat Diamond is a theoretical physicist who specializes in nonlinear problems related to plasma and fluids, including turbulence, transport, and self-organization.
Raphael Flaugher
Associate Professor Raphael Flaugher is a theoretical physicist that specializes in cosmology, quantum field theory, and cosmic mircowave background data analysis.
George Fuller

Distinguished Professor George Fuller is a theoretical physicist specializing in the interplay of the weak interaction, nuclei, and gravitation. Prof Fuller is the Director of CASS.
Daniel Green

Associate Professor Dan Green is a theoretical physicist working on cosmology and its intersection with particle physics and quantum field theory.
Brian Keating

Professor Brian Keating is an observational and experimental physicist, specializing in polarization and temperature measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).
Dusan Keres
Associate Professor Dusan Keres specializes in using advanced simulations to understand galaxy formation and evolution.
Quinn Konopacky
Associate Professor Quinn Konopacky uses high resolution techniques on large ground based telescopes to study star and planet formation and evolution.
Tongyan Lin

Assistant Professor Tongyan Lin uses theoretical and computational methods to test properties of dark matter with astrophysical observations and direct detection experiments.
Tom Murphy

Professor Tom Murphy uses innovative observations to test fundamental physics, like General Relativity, by leading the APOLLO lunar laser range experiment.
Michael Norman

Distinguish Professor Mike Norman specializes in computational astrophysics, with programs in cosmology, galaxy formation, star formation, and high-energy astrophysics.
Karin Sandstrom

Associate Professor Karin Sandstrom is an observational astrophysicist that specializes in the interstellar medium, with a focus on dust properties and evolution in nearby galaxies.
David Tytler

Professor David Tytler specializes in observational cosmology and new instrumentation, utilizing data from a range of large ground and spaced-based telescopes.
Shelley Wright
Associate Professor Shelley Wright is an experimental and observational astrophysicist that specializes in OIR instrumentation, galaxy formation and evolution, and technosignatures.