Michael Garrett

Michael Garrett is the inaugural Sir Bernard Lovell Chair in Astrophysics and Director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics (JBCA) at the University of Manchester. He leads a team of 190 researchers and students across two sites: the Alan Turing Building and Jodrell Bank Observatory, which houses the Lovell Telescope. His roles include directing the UK's radio astronomy National Facility, e-MERLIN, on behalf of STFC. He is also a Visiting Professor at Leiden University’s Leiden Observatory and serves as Vice-Chair of the IAA’s SETI Permanent Committee.

Garrett holds a BSc (1st Class Hons) in Astronomy from the University of Glasgow (1982–1986) and a PhD in Radio Astronomy from the University of Manchester (1986–1990), focusing on gravitational lensing. His research spans high-resolution radio observations of the distant universe, SETI, and Active Galactic Nuclei. He previously served as General & Scientific Director at ASTRON (2007–2016) and Director of JIVE (2003–2007).

His work bridges astrophysical observation and SETI, with contributions to projects like Project Hephaistos and ALMA-based SETI searches. He actively engages in media, discussing topics like alien life for outlets such as BBC World Service and Newsweek. His affiliations include the Royal Astronomical Society and membership in global astronomy initiatives like the Research Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA).