Shrinivas Kulkarni

Shrinivas Kulkarni is the George Ellery Hale Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He previously served as Executive Officer for Astronomy (1997-2000) and Director of Caltech Optical Observatories (2006-2018). He currently chairs the Physical Science panel of the Infosys Science Foundation (since 2009).

Education: M.S. in Applied Physics from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley.

Research interests span neutron stars, gamma-ray bursts, optical transients, and instrumentation. Current projects include the Ultra-violet Explorer, Warm Ionized Medium studies, and Galactic Radio Explorer. He leads the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) and fast radio burst research at Owens Valley Radio Observatory.

Awards and honors:

• Shaw Laureate in Astronomy (2024)
• Dan David Prize (2017)
• Jansky Lecturer (2002)
• NSF Alan T. Waterman Award (1992)
• Helen B. Warner Prize (1991)
• Packard Fellowship (1990)
• Vainu Bappu Memorial Award (1990)
• Sloan Research Fellow (1988)

He has advised nearly thirty graduate students and forty postdoctoral scholars. Current research includes developing astronomical tools (Mycroft) and SPHEREx mission analysis.