Alex Szalay

Alex Szalay is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Physics and Astronomy and Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University, USA, and directs the Institute for Data Intensive Engineering and Science. He holds a PhD in astrophysics from Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest, 1975), followed by postdoctoral roles at Berkeley and Fermilab. His research focuses on cosmology, dark matter, and large-scale data-driven astronomy, notably through the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Galaxy Zoo projects. He has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Jim Gray eScience Award (2007) and Sydney Fernbach Award (2015). His work bridges astrophysics and computational science, emphasizing big data methodologies.

Key contributions include advancing structure formation theories and pioneering data-intensive tools for astronomical surveys. As part of the HITS Scientific Advisory Board since 2014, he advises on interdisciplinary science. Szalay’s career spans academic roles in Hungary and the U.S., culminating in his current leadership at Johns Hopkins.