Joseph H. Taylor

Biography

Abstract

Joseph Taylor is James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Physics Emeritus at Princeton University (2006-present). Other institutional affiliations include University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His research interests include radio astronomy, pulsars, experimental gravitation, and the design and development of radio telescopes and information processing systems.

Important Dates

March 29, 1941Birth, Philadelphia (Pa.).

1963Obtained BA, Haverford College, Haverford (Pa. : Township).

1968Obtained PhD in Astronomy, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1968 – 1969Research Fellow and Lecturer in Astronomy, Harvard College Observatory, Harvard University.

1969 – 1981Assistant Professor to Professor, University of Massachsuetts, Amherst, Amherst (Mass.).

1971 – 1973Consultant, Massachusetts General Hospital.

1976 – 1978Councilor, High Energy Astrophysics Division, American Astronomical Society.

1980 – 1983Member, Visiting Committee, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.

1980 – 1983Member, Visiting Committee, Kitt Peak National Observatory.

1980 – 1983Member, Visiting Committee, National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

1980 – presentProfessor of Physics (1980-1986); James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Physics (1986-2006); Dean of Faculty (2000-2006); and James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Physics Emeritus (2006-present), Princeton University, Princeton (N.J.).

1981Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1985 – 1986Vice Chair, Astrophysics Division, American Physical Society.

1985 – 1988Councilor, High Energy Astrophysics Division, American Astronomical Society.

1986 – 1987Vice Chair, Astrophysics Division, American Physical Society.

1989 – 1990Member, Radio Astronomy Panel, Astronomy Survey Committee, National Academy of Sciences.

1992Awarded Wolf Foundation Prize in Physics.

1993Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics with Russell A. Hulse "for the discovery of a new type of pulsar, a discovery that has opened up new possibilities for the study of gravitation".

Occupation

Astrophysicist.

Places

Birth

Philadelphia (Pa.)

Undergraduate Education

Haverford (Pa. : Township)

Graduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Employment

Amherst (Mass.)

Princeton (N.J.)

Subjects

Astrophysics.

Gravitation (Constant of).

Pulsars.

Radio astronomy.

Relationships

People

Family

Taylor, Marietta Bisson

Wife.

Advisors & Collaborators

Hulse, R. A.

Advised by Taylor at University of Massachusetts Amherst, "A high sensitivity pulsar search," and co-won 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics "for the discovery of a new type of pulsar, a discovery that has opened up new possibilities for the study of gravitation."

Colleagues

Aizenman, Michael

Both employed at Princeton University.

Al'tshuler, B. L.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Anderson, P. W. (Philip W.), 1923-

Both employed at Princeton University.

Austin, Robert H.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Bialek, William S.

Both employed at Princeton University.

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

Both employed at Princeton University.

Callan, Curtis G.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Chaikin, Paul M.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Coppersmith, Susan Nan

Both employed at Princeton University.

Dicke, Robert H. (Robert Henry)

Both employed at Princeton University.

Fisch, N. J.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Fitch, Val L., 1923-2015

Both employed at Princeton University.

Gross, David J. (David Jonathan)

Both employed at Princeton University.

Haldane, F. Duncan M.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Happer, William, 1939-

Both employed at Princeton University.

Kaspi, Victoria Michelle, 1967-

Both employed at Princeton University.

Libchaber, Albert J.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Lieb, Elliott H.

Both employed at Princeton University.

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

Both employed at Harvard University.

Page, Lyman A.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Polyakov, A. M.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Randall, Lisa

Both employed at Princeton University.

Steinhardt, Paul J.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Tank, David William, 1953-

Both employed at Princeton University.

Treiman, Sam B.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Wightman, A. S. (Arthur Strong), 1922-2013

Both employed at Princeton University.

Wilczek, Frank

Both employed at Princeton University.

Wilkinson, David T.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Witherell, Michael S., 1949-

Both employed at Princeton University.

Witten, E.

Both employed at Princeton University.

Additional

Bartusiak, Marcia, 1950-

Wagoner, Robert V.

Institutions

Major Positions

Harvard College Observatory

Research Fellow and Lecturer in Astronomy.

Princeton University

Dean of Faculty.

Princeton University. Department of Physics

Professor of Physics; James S. McDonnell University Professor of Physics; and James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Physics Emeritus.

University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Department of Physics and Astronomy

Assistant Professor to Professor.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Astronomical Society

Councilor, High Energy Astrophysics Division.

American Physical Society

Vice Chair, Astrophysics Division.

Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory

Member, Visiting Committee.

Harvard University. Department of Astronomy

Obtained PhD (1968).

Haverford College

Obtained BA (1963).

Kitt Peak National Observatory

Member, Visiting Committee.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Consultant.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member and Member, Radio Astronomy Panel, Astronomy Survey Committee.

National Radio Astronomy Observatory (U.S.)

Member, Visiting Committee.

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Wolf Foundation Prizes

Received 1992 Wolf Foundation Prize in Physics.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Marcia Bartusiak interviews conducted for her book "Einstein's Unfinished Symphony," 1998-1999.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Joseph H. Taylor, 2001 October 29.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

American Institute of Physics Physics Today division Bertram Schwarzschild Nobel Prize files, 1954-2013.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Robert Wagoner, 1988 October 14.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

Joseph H. Taylor, Jr. Nobel Prize Autobiography