Ofer Lahav

Ofer Lahav is the Perren Professor of Astronomy at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London (UCL), UK. He has held leadership roles including Vice-Dean for Research at UCL's Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences (2011-2015) and Head of Astrophysics at UCL (2004-2011). Previously, he was a Reader in Cosmology at the University of Cambridge (2000-2003) and an Associate Professor at Hebrew University, Israel (1998-1999).

• Education: PhD in Astronomy (University of Cambridge, 1988), Master in Physics (Ben-Gurion University, Israel, 1985)

Lahav's research focuses on cosmological probes of dark matter and dark energy, neutrino cosmology, statistical methods for big data, and large redshift surveys. His work bridges astrophysics, cosmology, and data science, with a particular emphasis on understanding galaxy formation and evolution through spectroscopic and photometric redshift surveys.

Lahav has supervised 30 PhD students, 17 MSc students, and mentored 28 postdoctoral fellows at UCL and Cambridge. He has received numerous scientific awards, including a Royal Astronomical Society Award, an ERC Advanced Grant, and a Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Physics.

• Leadership Roles: Co-Director of UCL's Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science (2017-present), Co-Founder of the Institute of Origins (2012), and Chair of various committees at the Institute of Astronomy, DES Advisory Board, STFC, and Royal Astronomical Society.