Rebecca Surman

Rebecca Surman is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Notre Dame, specializing in nuclear astrophysics and heavy element nucleosynthesis. A Fellow of AAAS and APS, her research examines r-process element formation in neutron star mergers and supernovae. She received her PhD from UNC Chapel Hill and leads multiple NSF and DOE-funded projects.

Research explores:

• Neutrino interactions in astrophysical environments
• Nuclear physics of exotic neutron-rich nuclei
• Kilonova light curve modeling
• R-process abundance patterns

Honors include:

• AAAS and APS Fellowships
• Teaching prizes
• Major grants from NSF, DOE, and NEH

Advises graduate students and postdocs in theoretical astrophysics and leads collaborative research networks including N3AS and NP3M.