News: Faculty

2021

Provost Lee named in Chicago Magazine’s “New Power 30”

February 19, 2021

Headshot of Prof. Ka Yee C Lee

UChicago Provost and Professor of Chemistry, Ka Yee C. Lee is named one of Chicago Magazine's "New Power 30," a list of Chicagoans who have “stepped up in a big way, wielding newfound clout and making change happen”


McMahon lab uses new metamaterials for studying the oldest light in the universe

February 19, 2021

Top: scientists in an experimental cosmology lab; Bottom: an anti-reflection coated lense for a camera that will be mounted on a telescope

Experimental cosmologist and Assoc. Prof. McMahon and his students developed a new metamaterials-based antireflection coating for the silicon lenses used in cameras that capture the oldest light in the universe.


New Scientist interviews Dan Hooper: What happened at the big bang?

February 15, 2021

Dan Hooper

New Scientist filmed an interview with Dan Hooper: What happened at the big bang? The search for dark matter, cosmic inflation, and other mysteries from the beginning of time.


Random twists of place: How quiet is quantum space-time at the Planck scale?

February 15, 2021

Two men work on a holometer at Fermi Lab

Random twists of place: How quiet is quantum space-time at the Planck scale? Prof. Craig Hogan shares an update on the reconfigured Fermilab Holometer.


Ceramic chips inside meteorites hint at wild days of the early solar system

February 10, 2021

A meteorite sample that contains chondrite

Ceramic chips inside meteorites hint at wild days of the early solar system. Using complex equipment in Nicolas Dauphas' Origins Lab, including a one-of-a-kind patented purification system that the team developed, Justin Hu measured the isotopes for eight different elements inside the chips.


Prof. Josh Frieman awarded American Astronomical Society Fellowship

February 10, 2021

Prof. Josh Frieman

Prof. Josh Frieman has been awarded an American Astronomical Society Fellowship in recognition of his significant theoretical contributions to inflationary cosmology and dark energy theory and his contributions to optical surveys.


Four decades and millions of stars later, Sloan Digital Sky Survey co-founder retires

February 8, 2021

Rich Kron

Prof. Richard Kron's legacy includes helping to conceive and lead one of the most influential projects to map the sky, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, as well as the creation of the astrophysics major at UChicago and the project to digitize and explore the scientific potential of 100-year-old photographic images of the sky from the Yerkes Observatory. 


Geoscientist Elisabeth Moyer explains the impact of Keystone XL Pipeline decision on FOX 32

February 5, 2021

Elisabeth Moyer on FOX 32 news

Geoscientist Elisabeth Moyer joined FOX 32 news to explain the environmental impact of the Keystone XL Pipeline and what the president's decision will mean for renewable energy proponents.


Computer scientist Marshini Chetty works to bridge the gap between science and humanity

February 3, 2021

Marshini Chetty on a mountain in South Africa

Computer scientist Marshini Chetty works to bridge the gap between science and humanity


Prof. Emeritus Eugene Parker and Prof. Joshua A. Frieman named Fellows of the American Astronomical Society

February 3, 2021

Prof. Eugene Parker next to Prof. Joshua A Frieman, and the crest of University of Chicago in white on maroon background

Prof. Joshua A. Frieman and Prof. Emeritus Eugene Parker named Fellows of the American Astronomical Society. Prof. Frieman was recognized for his significant theoretical work on inflationary cosmology and dark energy and for pioneering contributions to optical survey science. Prof. Parker was named a Legacy Fellow for pioneering contributions to solar astrophysics.


Professor Elena Shevchenko joins Chemistry faculty

January 29, 2021

Elena Shevchenko

Professor Elena Shevchenko joins Chemistry faculty. She is recognized as one of the top scientists worldwide in the synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals and nanocrystal superlattices.


Roger Hildebrand, Manhattan Project veteran and ‘giant’ of physics and astrophysics, 1922-2021

January 27, 2021

Prof. Emeritus Roger Hillebrand

Roger Hildebrand, Manhattan Project veteran and ‘giant’ of physics and astrophysics, 1922-2021. Prof. Emeritus Hildebrand, who revolutionized sub-millimeter astronomy and the Dean of the College during the Vietnam era, died Jan. 21. He was 98.


New self-assembly method creates bioelectronics out of microscopic structures

January 27, 2021

Close up of a nanotechnology experiment for simulating human tissue interactions with the nervous system.

New self-assembly method creates bioelectronics out of microscopic structures. Scientists in Prof. Bozhi Tian’s lab use a “bottom-up” approach to yield highly customizable bioelectronics.


Cosmologist Brian Nord on his coalition of physicists and computer scientists promoting algorithmic accountability

January 26, 2021

Cosmologist Brian Nord is interviewed by Gizmodo about building a coalition of physicists and computer scientists promoting algorithmic accountability. Nord is a machine learning expert at Fermi National Laboratory who studies strong gravitational lensing and deep learning.


UChicago CS team led by Prof. Nick Feamster receives $1.2M to map the digital divide in Chicago

January 26, 2021

Nick Feamster

UChicago CS team led by Prof. Nick Feamster receives $1.2M to map the digital divide in Chicago. Grant from data.org to fund ‘moonshot’ to bring high-speed internet accessible to all