Karen Masters

Karen Masters is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Haverford College, with a distinguished career in astrophysics and galaxy research. She is actively involved in major international collaborations including the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and serves as the Principal Investigator of the Galaxy Zoo project under the Zooniverse platform.

Education:

• BA in Physics, Oxford University (Wadham College)
• M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Astronomy, Cornell University
• Postdoctoral appointments at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (2005–2008) and Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth (2008–2013)

Her research centers on understanding how internal structures in galaxies—such as spiral arms, bars, and rings—reflect their formation and evolution. She uses data from large-scale surveys like MaNGA (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory) to analyze galaxy dynamics and morphology. Her work bridges observational astrophysics with public engagement through citizen science.

Karen has held progressive academic roles: Senior Lecturer (2013–2014), then Reader of Astronomy and Astrophysics (2014–2019) at the University of Portsmouth, followed by Associate Professor (2018–2021) and Full Professor (2021–) at Haverford College. As SDSS-IV Spokesperson, she facilitated scientific communication across the collaboration. She also leads Galaxy Zoo: 3D and Galaxy Builder, expanding public participation in galaxy classification and modeling.

Scientific Leadership and Recognition:

• Principal Investigator, Galaxy Zoo (Zooniverse)
• Project Scientist (former), Galaxy Zoo
• SDSS-IV Spokesperson
• Principal Investigator, Galaxy Zoo: 3D
• Lead, Galaxy Builder

Karen Masters advises students and leads research teams at Haverford, integrating undergraduate researchers into cutting-edge astrophysics. Her work is supported by large collaborative grants from SDSS and Zooniverse-related funding. She continues to advance both scientific discovery and public understanding of galaxy evolution.

Research Labs and Teams:

• Galaxy Zoo Team (Zooniverse)
• SDSS Collaboration, MaNGA Survey Team
• Haverford College Astrophysics Research Group