Margaret J. Geller

Dates

December 8, 1947 – present

Authorized Form of Name

Geller, Margaret J.

Additional Forms of Names

Geller, M. (Margaret)

Biography

Abstract

Margaret J. Geller is Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (1983-present). Other institutional affiliations include Harvard University. Her research interests include dark matter and hypervelocity stars.

Important Dates

December 8, 1947Birth, Ithaca (N.Y.).

1970Obtained BA, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1972Obtained MA, Princeton University, Princeton (N.J.).

1974Obtained PhD in Physics, Princeton University, Princeton (N.J.).

1974 – 1983Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (1974-1976); Research Fellow, Harvard College Observatory (1976-1978); Lecturer (1977-1980); Research Associate, Harvard College Observatory (1978-1980); and Assistant Professor (1980-1983), Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1978 – 1980Senior Visiting Fellow, Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge University.

1982 – 1985Member, Committee on the Status of Women, American Astronomical Society.

1983 – 1985Member, Management Operations Working Group for Space Astronomy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

1983 – presentAstronomer (1983-1991) and Senior Scientist (1991-present), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge (Mass.).

1984 – 1986Member, Space Station Task Force, Space and Earth Science Advisory Committee, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

1985 – 1988Member, Council, American Astronomical Society.

1986 – 1989Member, Advisory Committee, Astronomical Sciences Division, National Science Foundation.

1990Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

1990Fellowship, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

1992Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

1992Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1992 – 1994Member, Board of Directors, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

1993 – 1994Member, Panel on Cosmology, National Research Council.

1994 – 1997Member, Board of Trustees, Boston Museum of Science.

1995Fellow, American Physical Society.

1996 – 1998Chair, Astrophysics (Physics Section) Screening Panel, National Academy of Sciences.

2000 – 2003Member, Council, National Academy of Sciences.

2005 – 2006Member, Scientific Organizing Committee, Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), International Council for Science.

Occupation

Astrophysicist.

Places

Subjects

Astrophysics.

Dark matter (Astronomy).

Relationships

People

Colleagues

Conant, James Bryant, 1893-1978

Both employed at Harvard University.

Dalgarno, A.

Both employed at Harvard University.

Giacconi, Riccardo

Both employed at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

McKee, Christopher, 1942-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Menzel, Donald H. (Donald Howard), 1901-1976

Both employed at Harvard University.

Penzias, Arno A.

Both employed at Harvard College Observatory.

Rosner, Robert

Both employed at Harvard University.

Additional

Davis, M. (Marc)

De Vaucouleurs, Gérard, 1918-1995

Dicke, Robert H. (Robert Henry)

Faber, S. M. (Sandra M.)

Gunn, J. E. (James Edward), 1938-

Guth, Alan H.

Hoyle, Fred, 1915-2001

Ostriker, J. P.

Peebles, P. J. E. (Phillip James Edwin)

Penrose, Roger

Rees, Martin J., 1942-

Rubin, Vera C., 1928-2016

Sandage, Allan

Sargent, Wallace Leslie William, 1935-

Schmidt, Maarten, 1929-

Schramm, David N.

Sciama, D. W. (Dennis William), 1926-

Silk, Joseph, 1942-

Turner, Edwin Lewis

Wagoner, Robert V.

Institutions

Major Positions

Harvard College Observatory

Research Fellow and Research Associate.

Harvard University. Department of Astronomy

Lecturer and Assistant Professor.

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Astronomer and Senior Scientist.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Member.

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Fellow.

American Astronomical Society

Member, Committee on the Status of Women and Member, Council.

American Physical Society

Fellow.

Boston Museum of Science

Member, Board of Trustees.

Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.

Member, Board of Directors.

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Postdoctoral Fellow.

International Council of Scientific Unions

Member, Scientific Organizing Committee, Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Fellowship.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member; Chair, Astrophysics (Physics Section) Screening Panel; and Member, Council.

National Research Council (U.S.)

Member, Panel on Cosmology.

National Science Foundation (U.S.). Division of Physics

Member, Advisory Committee, Astronomical Sciences Division.

Princeton University. Department of Physics

Obtained MA (1972) and PhD in Physics (1974).

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Member, Management Operations Working Group for Space Astronomy and Member, Space Station Task Force, Space and Earth Science Advisory Committee.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Obtained BA (1970).

University of Cambridge. Institute of Astronomy

Senior Visiting Fellow.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Margaret J. Geller video history interviews [videorecording], 1989-1990.

Smithsonian Institution. Archives.

Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024-2520, USA

Oral history interview with Margaret J. Geller, 2002 October 1.

In private hands

Massachusetts.

So many galaxies...so little time [videorecording] / a film by Boyd Estus and Margaret Geller.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics