Chris Hirata

Chris Hirata is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at The Ohio State University and a University Distinguished Scholar. He joined the university's Physics and Astronomy departments in 2013. His expertise spans cosmology, dark energy, galaxy clustering, gravitational lensing, general relativity, and the cosmic microwave background. He is a theorist with a focus on statistical methods and collaboration with observational programs.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Physics, Princeton University (2005)
• B.S. in Physics, California Institute of Technology (2001)

His research includes groundbreaking work on cosmic recombination calculations (critical for cosmological parameter estimation) and methods to measure large-scale structure via gravitational lensing. Key contributions include his thesis work on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (2001-2005) and ongoing efforts for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), set to launch in 2026. His work bridges theoretical and observational cosmology, emphasizing precision measurements.

Awards:

• University Distinguished Scholar (2021)

Research Group: Hirata leads a group advancing cosmological models and observational techniques, collaborating on major projects like WFIRST. His lab focuses on interdisciplinary methods to address fundamental questions in the early and late Universe.