Bryan Gaensler

Bryan Gaensler is the Dean of the Division of Physical & Biological Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), and a Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics. He previously held roles including Director of the Dunlap Institute at the University of Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Radio Astronomy. His research focuses on cosmic magnetism, interstellar gas, and fast radio bursts (FRBs), with leadership roles in initiatives like the Polarisation Sky Survey of the Universe's Magnetism (POSSUM) and CHIME/FRB collaboration.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Physics, University of Sydney (1999)
  • Postdoctoral fellowships at MIT and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
• Research Interests: Cosmic magnetism, FRBs, interstellar medium, galaxy evolution, and time-domain astrophysics. His work uses radio telescopes like ASKAP and CHIME to study magnetic fields and transient phenomena.

His over 450 publications include groundbreaking studies on FRBs, magnetic fields in galaxies, and interstellar gas dynamics. Awards include the American Astronomical Society Pierce Prize and Australian Academy of Science Pawsey Medal. Gaensler also advocates for diversity and inclusion in academia, leading initiatives like the Toronto Initiative for Diversity and Excellence (TIDE).

As Dean, he emphasizes three pillars: degree-defining student experiences, research impact, and embedding diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI) into institutional practices. His lab teams collaborate on projects like POSSUM and FRB localization efforts.