Scott A. Hughes

Scott A. Hughes is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), School of Science. He is affiliated with the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research and leads the Hughes Group, focusing on astrophysical general relativity. He previously served as the Astrophysics Division Head (2019–2023) and held the Adam J. Burgasser Chair in Astrophysics and the Class of 1956 Career Development Professorship.

• Education: B.A. in Physics, Cornell University (1993); Ph.D. in Physics, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), advised by Kip Thorne.
• Postdoctoral Experience: University of Illinois, Caltech, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (UCSB).
• Joined MIT Faculty: January 2003.

His research centers on astrophysical general relativity, with a focus on black holes, gravitational-wave sources, and strong-field gravity. He investigates waveform modeling, testing black hole spacetimes, and cosmological applications of gravitational waves ('standard sirens'). His work integrates high-performance computing and numerical relativity, contributing to LIGO science. He has authored numerous influential publications on extreme mass-ratio inspirals, ringdown spectroscopy, and gravitational wave cosmology.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward gravitational wave astrophysics, combining theoretical modeling with observational implications for LIGO and future space-based detectors like LISA. His work spans black hole dynamics, numerical relativity, cosmological parameter estimation, and tests of general relativity. There is a growing integration of machine learning and data analysis techniques in his recent work.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• American Physical Society Fellow (2012)
• John Simon Guggenheim Fellow (2012)
• Margaret MacVicar Faculty Fellow, MIT (2017–2027)
• Buechner Outstanding Advisor Award, MIT Physics (2016)
• MIT School of Science Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2005–2006)
• National Science Foundation Career Grant (2005)
• Buechner Teaching Prize, MIT Physics (2005)
• Class of 1956 Career Development Professor, MIT (2004)

Professor Hughes is a dedicated educator and mentor. He has received multiple teaching awards and is recognized as an outstanding advisor. He teaches core courses including graduate 8.962 (General Relativity), undergraduate 8.033 (Relativity), and 8.022 (Electricity and Magnetism). He has developed extensive open lecture notes for these courses. He is also a first-generation college graduate and actively supports first-generation students at MIT. He leads a research group and mentors graduate students, though specific student names are not listed in the provided text. His research has been supported by the NSF and other grants. He is actively involved in the international gravitational wave community, regularly presenting at major conferences and serving on thesis committees abroad.

Laboratories and Research Groups: Hughes Group - Astrophysical General Relativity @ MIT (gmunu.mit.edu), affiliated with the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research.