David Spergel to Lead New Center for Computational Astrophysics

The Simons Foundation is delighted to announce the creation of the Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA) and the appointment of David Spergel as its director. The next set of advances in astronomy will require understanding complex multi-scale physics and large astronomical datasets. CCA plans to develop the computational tools needed for these calculations, simulations and analyses. CCA also plans to hold conferences and meetings and serve as a focal point for computational astronomy around the world.

David Spergel is the Charles A. Young Professor of Astronomy on the Class of 1897 Foundation and chair of the astrophysical sciences department at Princeton University. His work has been recognized by fellowships and awards, including the MacArthur Fellowship (2001), the Shaw Prize (2010), the Gruber Prize (2012, as a member of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotrophy Probe team), and the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics (2015). He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and he currently serves as chair of the National Academy of Sciences Space Studies Board.

The center will be based at the Simons Foundation headquarters in Manhattan, co-located with the Center for Computational Biology (formerly known as the Simons Center for Data Analysis). Over the next several years, CCA will be recruiting outstanding scientists from the U.S. and abroad for both junior and senior positions and will be hosting sabbatical and summer visitors as well.