Alexandra Pope

Alexandra Pope is a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, specializing in galaxy formation and evolution. Her research focuses on submillimetre/infrared galaxies, star formation rates, active galactic nuclei, and interstellar medium conditions at high redshift. She received her Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia and held a Spitzer postdoctoral fellowship at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. Pope has mentored numerous students, including Kenneth Lin, Sarah Betti, Zoe Kearney, and Dr. Allison Kirkpatrick, and received the UMass Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award in 2018. She leads projects like the TolTEC instrument on the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) and contributes to missions such as the Origins Space Telescope (OST) and PRIMA.

Her work bridges observational astronomy with theoretical modeling, emphasizing galaxy-AGN co-evolution and dust physics. Recent activities include organizing outreach workshops for Girls Inc. and chairing panels on US-Mexico astronomical collaborations. Key contributions include studies of distant galaxy clusters, cosmic infrared background analysis, and the role of environment in star formation.

Pope’s scientific awards include the UMass Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award (2018). She collaborates internationally, with publications spanning galaxy morphology, mid-infrared spectroscopy, and instrument development.