Alessandra Corsi

Alessandra Corsi is a W. H. Miller Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University, previously at Texas Tech University. She holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Rome Sapienza (2007) and a Laurea in Physics cum laude (2003). Her research focuses on multi-messenger time-domain astronomy, gravitational wave physics, and relativistic transients. She leads the JAGWAR project for radio follow-up of gravitational wave events and is a key member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. Corsi has secured $2.7M in grants as PI and authored/co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed articles (h-index 106). She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and recipient of the New Horizons Prize in Physics and TAMEST Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award.

Education: Ph.D. Astronomy, University of Rome Sapienza (2007); Laurea in Physics cum laude (2003). Academic positions include roles at Texas Tech (2014–2024), George Washington University (2010–2014), and postdoctoral appointments at Caltech and Penn State.

Research interests emphasize electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational waves, core-collapse supernovae, and radio observations of cosmic explosions. Her work has advanced understanding of neutron star mergers (e.g., GW170817) and kilonova afterglows. Teaching includes courses on radio astronomy and radiative processes at graduate and undergraduate levels.

Major awards include the Breakthrough Foundation’s New Horizons Prize (2022), NSF CAREER Award (2015–2021), and L’Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Fellowship (2008). She advises a dynamic team of 5 postdocs, 8 graduate students, and numerous undergraduates. Corsi also chairs diversity initiatives like the TTU-Hub for NRAO’s NINE program and collaborates with minority-serving institutions.