- 2018 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
Intro
American theoretical astrophysicist and Princeton University professor. He received the 2018 Breakthrough Prize in fundamental physics for “detailed maps of the early universe that greatly improved our knowledge of the evolution of the cosmos and the fluctuations that seeded the formation of galaxies.”
Education and Work Experience
1985, Ph.D. in Astronomy, Harvard University
1987-2019, Charles A. Young Professor of Astronomy, Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
2006-2016, Department Chair of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
2016-Present, Founding Director of the Center for Computational Astrophysics
Honors and Awards
2001, MacArthur Fellowship
2010, Shaw Prize in Astronomy
2015, Dannie Heineman Prize
2018, Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
Major Academic Achievements
He was part of the team that originated the WMAP mission and designed the spacecraft, and has worked on deciphering the data that it beams back from space. Spergel is playing a leading role in developing the WFIRST, a multibillion-dollar space mission planned for launch in the mid-2020s.