Gary Bernstein

Gary Bernstein is the Reese W. Flower Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy. His research focuses on observational astrophysics, cosmology, and weak gravitational lensing, with a particular emphasis on the Dark Energy Survey (DES). He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from UC Berkeley (1989) and an A.B. in Physics from Princeton University (1983, summa cum laude).

His research interests include mapping dark matter through weak lensing distortions and studying trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) to understand solar system formation. Notable contributions include first measurements of dark matter ‘lumpiness’ and discoveries of over 300 TNOs using DES data. He teaches courses such as Astronomy 001, 007, 503, and Physics 016.

Funding for his work comes from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy Office of Science, and NASA. His instrumental contributions include the Big Throughput Camera, highlighted in 1998.