Ramanath Cowsik

Ramanath Cowsik is a Professor of Physics and James S. McDonnell Professor of Space Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, directing the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences. He holds a PhD from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Bombay University), an MS from Karnatak University, and a BS from Mysore University. His research focuses on astrophysics, cosmology, dark matter, and gravitational experiments.

Dr. Cowsik pioneered the Hanle Observatory in the Himalayas and developed the 'leaky-box' and 'nested-leaky box' models for cosmic ray propagation. He is advancing torsion balance experiments to test gravitational inverse-square law violations and Einstein's equivalence principle. His work on dark matter, neutrino masses, and cosmic ray phenomena has earned global recognition.

• Key Research: Cosmic ray propagation models, dark matter detection, gravitation experiments, high-energy astrophysical sources
• Major Projects: Hanle Observatory (highest astronomical observatory), torsion balance experiments at sub-millimeter scales

Awards: National Academy of Sciences (USA), Padma Shri Medal, S. S. Bhatnagar Award, Vikram Sarabhai Prize, TWAS Physics Prize

He has advised numerous students and led interdisciplinary collaborations, including the X-Calibur X-ray polarimeter project and HAGAR telescope array. His work bridges cosmology, particle physics, and experimental astrophysics, with ongoing efforts in dark matter dynamics and gravitational fundamental forces.