Paul J. Steinhardt

Biography

Abstract

Paul Steinhardt is Albert Einstein Professor of Science at Princeton University. Other institutional affiliations include the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. His research interests include pasticle physics, astrophysics, cosmology, and condensed matter physics. He was one of the original architects of the inflationary model, and also helped introduce the concept of quasicrystals.

Important Dates

December 25, 1952Birth, Washington (D.C.).

1974Obtained BS in Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (Calif.).

1975Obtained MA in Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1978Obtained PhD in Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1978 – 1981Junior Fellow, Society of Fellows, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1978 – 1991Consultant, Thomas J. Watson Research Center, International Business Machines (IBM).

1979Visiting Scientist, Princeton University, Princeton (N.J.).

1981 – 1998Assistant Professor of Physics (1981-1983); Associate Professor of Physics (1983-1986); Professor of Physics (1986-1989); and Mary Amanda Wood Professor of Physics (1989-1998), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Pa.).

1982Visiting Professor, Johns Hopkins University.

1989 – 1990Monell Fellow, Institute for Advanced Study.

1990 – 1994Member (1990-1994) and Chair (1992-1993), Advisory Board, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara.

1998Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1998 – presentProfessor of Physics (1998-2001); Associated Faculty, Department of Astrophysical Sciences (1998-present); Albert Einstein Professor of Science (2001-present); Associate Director and Senior Fellow, Center for Theoretical Science (2006-2007); and Director, Center for Theoretical Physics (2008-present), Princeton University, Princeton (N.J.).

2003 – 2004Keck Distinguished Visiting Professor, Institute for Advanced Study.

2010Awarded Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, American Physical Society.

Occupation

Theoretical physicist and cosmologist.

Places

Birth

Washington (D.C.)

Undergraduate Education

Pasadena (Calif.)

Graduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Employment

Philadelphia (Pa.)

Princeton (N.J.)

Subjects

Astrophysics.

Condensed matter.

Cosmology.

Dark matter (Astronomy).

Inflationary universe.

Quasicrystals.

Theoretical physics.

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Barish, B. C. (Barry Clark), 1936-

Research advisor at California Institute of Technology.

Coleman, Sidney, 1937-2007

PhD advisor at Harvard University, "Lattice Theory of SU(N) Flavor Quantum Electrodynamics in (1+1)-Dimensions," and both employed at Harvard University.

Feynman, Richard P. (Richard Phillips), 1918-1988

Research advisor at California Institute of Technology.

Colleagues

Aizenman, Michael

Both employed at Princeton University.

Al'tshuler, B. L.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Austin, Robert H.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Bialek, William S.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Bloembergen, N.

Both employed at Harvard University.

Brinkman, William F. (William Frank), 1938-

Both employed at Princeton University.

Burstein, Elias, 1917-2017

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Callan, Curtis G.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Callen, Herbert B.

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Chaikin, Paul M.

Both employed at Princeton University and University of Pennsylvania.

Dolan, Gerald

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Fitch, Val L., 1923-2015

Both employed at Princeton University.

Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Gates, S. James

Both employed at Harvard University.

Georgi, Howard

Both employed at Harvard University.

Glashow, Sheldon L.

Both employed at Harvard University.

Glauber, Roy J., 1925-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Haldane, F. Duncan M.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Halperin, Bertrand I.

Both employed at Harvard University.

Happer, William, 1939-

Both employed at Princeton University.

Haroche, S.

Both employed at Harvard University.

Heeger, Alan J.

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Langenberg, D. N., 1932-

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Libchaber, Albert J.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Lieb, Elliott H.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Lubensky, T. C.

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Martin, Paul Cecil, 1931-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Middleton, Roy, 1927-2004

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Nelson, David R., 1951-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Page, Lyman A.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Plummer, E. Ward

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Polchinski, Joseph Gerard

Both employed at Harvard University.

Polyakov, A. M.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Pound, Robert V.

Both employed at Harvard University.

Primakoff, H. (Henry), 1914-1983

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Purcell, Edward M.

Both employed at Harvard University.

Ramsey, Norman, 1915-2011

Both employed at Harvard University.

Randall, Lisa

Both employed at Princeton University.

Street, Jabez Curry, 1906-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Tank, David William, 1953-

Both employed at Princeton University.

Taylor, Joseph H. (Joseph Hooton)

Both employed at Princeton University.

Tinkham, Michael

Both employed at Harvard University.

Treiman, Sam B.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Weinberg, Steven, 1933-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Weitz, David A.

Both employed at University of Pennsylvania.

Wilkinson, David T.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Wise, Mark B., 1953-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Witten, E.

Both employed at Harvard University.

Additional

Linde, A. D.

Turok, Neil

Institutions

Major Positions

Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, N.J.)

Monell Fellow and Keck Distinguished Visiting Professor.

Princeton University. Department of Astrophysical Sciences

Associated Faculty.

Princeton University. Department of Physics

Visiting Scientist; Professor of Physics; and Albert Einstein Professor of Science.

University of Pennsylvania. Department of Physics and Astronomy

Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; and Mary Amanda Wood Professor of Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Physical Society

Received 2010 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize.

California Institute of Technology. Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy

Obtained BS in Physics (1974).

Harvard University. Department of Physics

Obtained MA (1975) and PhD (1978). Junior Fellow, Society of Fellows.

Johns Hopkins University. Department of Physics

Visiting Professor.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

Princeton Center for Theoretical Science

Associate Director; Senior Fellow; and Director.

Thomas J. Watson IBM Research Center

Consultant.

University of California, Santa Barbara. Institute for Theoretical Physics

Member and Chair, Advisory Board.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Gravity Research Foundation essays and abstracts, 1949-2015.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

QFT and QCD: past, present, and future [videorecording], 2005 March 18 and 19.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Oral history interview with Andrei Linde, 1987 October 22.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Neil Turok, 2002 May 16.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

Quasicrystals : the state of the art / editors, D.P. DiVincenzo, P.J. Steinhardt.