Anton Zensus

Anton Zensus is Professor at the University of Cologne and, since 1996, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn. He is a scientific member of the Max Planck Society and founding chairman of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, which produced humanity’s first images of black holes in 2019 and 2022.

Education & Career Path

• PhD in Physics, University of Münster (1984)
• Diploma in Physics, University of Münster (1982)
• Post-doctoral researcher, California Institute of Technology & National Radio Astronomy Observatory, USA (1985–1991)
• Staff astronomer, National Radio Astronomy Observatory (1991–1996)
• Director, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (since 1996)
• Honorary Professor, University of Cologne (since 2005)

Research Focus

Anton Zensus leads a world-renowned group developing and applying Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at millimetre wavelengths and in space. By connecting radio telescopes around the globe—and in orbit—his team creates an Earth-sized virtual telescope capable of imaging the immediate environments of super-massive black holes and the innermost regions of distant galaxies with unprecedented resolution.

Scientific Leadership & Awards

• Karl Schwarzschild Medal 2024 – Astronomical Society
• Tycho Brahe Medal 2023 – European Astronomical Society
• Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics 2020 – shared with the EHT collaboration
• Royal Astronomical Society Group Award 2021
• Einstein Medal 2020 – Swiss Einstein Society
• Bruno Rossi Group Award 2020 – American Astronomical Society
• Gold Medal 2013 – Institute for Applied Astrophysics, St. Petersburg
• Radioastron Medal 2012 – Astro Space Center, Moscow
• Max Planck Research Award 1999
• Alexander von Humboldt Research Award 1994

International Collaboration & Mentoring

Professor Zensus coordinates or chairs numerous trans-national initiatives:

• Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration – Founding Chair
• RadioNet (European radio-astronomy facilities) – Scientific Coordinator
• OPTICON-RadioNet Pilot (ORP) – Scientific Coordinator
• European VLBI Network – Board Member
• Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe – Council Member
• Next Generation Very Large Array Project – Science Advisory Board
• Elisabeth Schiemann Kolleg – Mentor for early-career female scientists

Through the IMPRS for Astronomy & Astrophysics Bonn and systemic coaching programmes, he actively trains and mentors doctoral researchers, post-docs and junior research group leaders.