Rachel Bean is a cosmologist and

theoretical astrophysicist Astrophysics is a science that employs the methods and principles of physics and chemistry in the study of astronomical objects and phenomena. As one of the founders of the discipline said, Astrophysics "seeks to ascertain the nature of the hea ...

. She is a professor of astronomy and the interim dean of the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences.

Education

Bean received her bachelor's degree (Natural Sciences) from

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

(1995). After graduation, she worked in the strategy division at

Accenture Accenture plc is an Irish-American professional services company based in Dublin, specializing in information technology (IT) services and consulting. A ''Fortune'' Global 500 company, it reported revenues of $61.6 billion in 2022. Accentur ...

before returning to academia. She received her master's (1999) and doctorate (2002) in theoretical physics from

Imperial College London Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. Its history began with Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, who developed his vision for a cu ...

. She did postdoctoral research at

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...

, before becoming a faculty member at Cornell University in 2005.

Career

Bean’s research focuses on cosmological tests of the nature of

dark energy In physical cosmology and astronomy, dark energy is an unknown form of energy that affects the universe on the largest scales. The first observational evidence for its existence came from measurements of supernovas, which showed that the univer ...

and gravity, and the physical origins of primordial

inflation In economics, inflation is an increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation corresponds to a reductio ...

, using data from large-scale structure and the

cosmic microwave background In Big Bang cosmology the cosmic microwave background (CMB, CMBR) is electromagnetic radiation that is a remnant from an early stage of the universe, also known as "relic radiation". The CMB is faint cosmic background radiation filling all spac ...

. She is actively involved in a number of international astronomical surveys including the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope ( LSST), the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), and the Euclid mission. On July 13, 2023, Bean succeeded

Ray Jayawardhana Ray Jayawardhana is the Harold Tanner Dean of the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences and a Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University, effective September 1, 2018. He was formerly Dean of Science and a Professor of physics & astron ...

as the interim dean of the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences.

Awards

* 2018

Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics is one of the Breakthrough Prizes, awarded by the Breakthrough Prize Board. Initially named Fundamental Physics Prize, it was founded in July 2012 by Russia-born Israeli entrepreneur, venture capita ...

(for the results of the

WMAP The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), originally known as the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP and Explorer 80), was a NASA spacecraft operating from 2001 to 2010 which measured temperature differences across the sky in the cosmic mic ...

mission) * 2016 Fellow,

American Physical Society The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of k ...

* 2012 Gruber Prize in Cosmology, for the results of the

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), originally known as the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP and Explorer 80), was a NASA spacecraft operating from 2001 to 2010 which measured temperature differences across the sky in the cosmic mic ...

(WMAP) mission * 2010 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) * 2008

Cottrell Scholar Award Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) is an organization in the United States devoted to the advancement of science, funding research projects in the physical sciences. Since 1912, Research Corporation for Science Advancement has id ...

, Research Corporation. * 2007 NASA Group Achievement Award (for the results of the

mission)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bean, Rachel Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Fellows of the American Physical Society American women astronomers Cornell University faculty Alumni of the University of Cambridge Alumni of Imperial College London Recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers 21st-century American women scientists 21st-century American astronomers 21st-century American physicists American astrophysicists American women astrophysicists American university and college faculty deans Women deans (academic) 21st-century women physicists