Frederic Rasio

Frederic Rasio is the Joseph Cummings Professor of Physics at Northwestern University's Department of Physics and Astronomy. His research focuses on theoretical astrophysics, including exoplanet dynamics, dense stellar systems (globular clusters, galactic nuclei), hydrodynamic stellar interactions, and relativistic astrophysics (neutron stars, black holes, gravitational waves). He leads studies on gravitational wave sources for detectors like LIGO and LISA, and the formation of massive black holes through stellar processes.

Education: PhD from Cornell University (1991).

Research Interests:

• Exoplanet formation and dynamics
• Collisional processes in dense star clusters
• Black hole mergers and gravitational wave astrophysics
• Secular evolution of hierarchical stellar systems

Awards & Honors:

• Alfred P. Sloan Fellow (1996–2000)
• Fellow of the American Physical Society (2006)
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2018)
• Brouwer Career Award (American Astronomical Society, 2019)
• Legacy Fellow (American Astronomical Society, 2020)

Key Contributions: Pioneered studies on dynamical instabilities in planetary systems, hydrodynamic simulations of neutron star mergers, and gravitational wave sources from globular clusters. Active in interdisciplinary research through centers like CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics).