Yale Professor Priyamvada Natarajan Elected to the Prestigious American Astronomical Society
- The Indian American theoretical astrophysicist was chosen for her seminal research on the subject of black holes and dark matter physics.
Indian American theoretical astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan has been elected to the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in recognition of her seminal research on the subject of black holes and dark matter physics. She is one of the 21 new fellows announced on Feb 1, in recognition of the fellows’ work to enhance humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe.
Natarajan, the Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor and Chair of Astronomy and professor of physics in the Yale Faculty of Arts and Sciences, was selected for “seminal contributions to our understanding of the nature of dark matter and black hole physics, and for the development of a brand-new framework that enables mapping the detailed distribution of dark matter on small scales within galaxy clusters using gravitational lensing,” AAS said in its election announcement.
“I am delighted and honored to be recognized by my peers, which is super special,” Natarajan said. “I am so grateful and thrilled for the reactions I’ve had to my research work, and accolades such as this are a wonderful icing on the cake.”
A Yale faculty member since 2000, she is director of the Franke Program in Science and the Humanities, which fosters communication, mutual understanding, collaborative research, and teaching among diverse scientific and humanistic disciplines. She is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She also is the recipient of Guggenheim and Radcliffe fellowships.
Established in 1899, AAS is a major international organization of professional astronomers, astronomy educators, and amateur astronomers. Its 8,000 members also include physicists, geologists, engineers, and others whose interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects now comprising the astronomical sciences.
The AAS Fellows program was started in 2019 to recognize AAS members for their contributions toward the Society’s mission of enhancing and sharing humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe. Fellows may be cited for original research and publication, innovative contributions to astronomical techniques or instrumentation, significant contributions to education and public outreach, and noteworthy service to astronomy and to the society itself.