David Spergel's Home Page

Research Interests

Using microwave backcground observations from the WMAP Satellite and the Atacama Cosmology Telescope", I have measured the age, shape, and composition of the universe. Our observations have played a significant role in establishing the standard model of cosmology.

I am currently co-chair of the WFIRST science team. WFIRST will study the nature of dark energy, complete the demographic survey of extrasolar planets, characterize the atmospheres of nearby planets and survey the universe with more than 100x the field of view of the Hubble Space Telescope. I have played a significant role in the design of the coronagraph and is shaping the overall mission.

I am now emeritus faculty at Princeton University. While I no longer teach, I continue to work with Princeton graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

I have been the primary mentor for over 31 graduate students, 40 postdoctoral fellows and 60 undergraduates. Many of my mentees have gone on to do exciting work accross a range of fields.

I have received a number of prizes and awards for my work including: Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2018); NASA Exceptional Public Service Award (2017); Dannie Heineman Prize in Astrophysics (2015); Nature's Ten People Who Mattered in 2014; AAS Kavli Lecturer (2014); President's Distinguished Teaching Award (2013); Fellow, APS (2013); Time: "25 Most Influential People in Space" (2013); American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2012); Gruber Prize (as part of WMAP team) (2012); Shaw Prize in Astronomy (2010); Citation Laureate (2010); National Acad. of Sciences (2008); John T. and Helen D. MacArthur Fellowship (2001); Time: "One of America's Top Scientists" (2001); AAS Helen B. Warner Prize (1994); NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award (1988); Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (1988). According to google scholar, I have an h index of 120 and over 100,000 citations.

I am the Founding Director of the Center for Computational Astrophysics at the Flatiron Institute. I served as Department Chair from 2/2006- 6/2016 and served as Associate Chair from 2/1999 - 1/2006. I have chaired the NAS Space Study Board and was a member of the NASA Advisory Committee. I now serve on JPL Advisory Committee. I also serve as Co-Chair of Global Coordination of Ground and Space Astrophysics Working Group of the International Astronomical Union.

Here are links to a list of my recent and most-cited papers.

Contact Information

• Room 113, Peyton Hall, Princeton, NJ, 08544
• Phone: (609) 258 3589
• Fax: (609) 258 8226
• email: dns at astro DOT princeton DOT edu

Past Teaching Links

• FRS 126 Imagining Other Earths (FRS 126) (Spring 2013)
• AST 303 Astronomical Methods (Next taught, Fall 2014. Taught by Strauss, Fall 2012) .
• AST 524/PHY 564 Cosmology (AST 524/PHY 564)

Current Teaching

Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2018)

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