James J. Bock

James J. Bock is the Marvin L. Goldberger Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology and a Senior Research Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He earned his B.S. from Duke University (1987), M.A. (1990) and Ph.D. (1994) from the University of California, Berkeley. His career spans roles at JPL (1994-2012) and Caltech (1994-24), including Visiting Associate, Senior Faculty Associate, and Professor. Current affiliations include leading the Observational Cosmology group at Caltech and contributing to the BICEP Array and SPHEREx projects.

• B.S., Duke University, 1987
• M.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1990
• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1994

Dr. Bock specializes in observational cosmology and instrumentation development for space missions. His research focuses on studying the cosmic microwave background (CMB), galaxy evolution, and designing cryogenic systems for infrared and millimeter-wave telescopes. Key projects include SPHEREx, SPIDER, and BICEP Array, addressing questions about cosmic inflation, gravitational lensing, and dust polarization.

His recent publications highlight advancements in CMB polarization analysis, cryogenic engineering for space telescopes, and extragalactic background light studies. Collaborative work spans institutions and journals like the Astrophysical Journal and IOP Conference Series.

• Marvin L. Goldberger Professor of Physics (current title)

Dr. Bock contributes to lab groups developing novel instrumentation for cosmological studies, including teams working on the BICEP Array and SPHEREx brassboard models. His work bridges theoretical cosmology and experimental space mission execution.