UCLA astronomer Andrea Ghez named MacArthur Fellow

Andrea Ghez, a UCLA professor of physics and astronomy, has been selected as a 2008 MacArthur Fellow, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced today. Ghez is among 25 new recipients of the annual "genius" fellowship, each of whom will receive $500,000 in unrestricted support over the next five years to use as they see fit.

Ghez uses novel, ground-based telescopic techniques to identify thousands of new star systems and illuminate the role of supermassive black holes in the evolution of galaxies.

"I am really thrilled," Ghez said. "I will be able to take more risks with my research than I could before. The current shortage of federal funding for science can lead scientists to take fewer risks, but my selection as a MacArthur Fellow will allow me to pursue new ideas; it says to me that I should be brave and take risks."

The mother of two sons — Evan, 7, and Miles, who will turn 3 in October — says the MacArthur funding is "particularly exciting" for women in science.

"The MacArthur Foundation funding will allow me to be much more effective and flexible and will definitely help with the balancing act," she said. "I'm frequently away from home and from my children, conducting research. Now I will be able to bring them with me more often."

"For 26 years, the MacArthur Fellows Program has recognized and supported individuals who inspire us," said MacArthur Foundation President Jonathan Fanton. "This new group of MacArthur Fellows illustrates our conviction that talented and creative individuals, free to follow their insights and instincts, will reveal new discoveries and make a difference in shaping our future."

Ghez said she views it as a challenge to live up to the confidence the foundation has placed in her. If her previous success is any guide, she should have little difficulty.

In 1998, Ghez answered one of astronomy's most important questions, showing that a monstrous black hole resides at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, some 26,000 light-years away, with a mass more than 3 million times that of the sun. The question had been a subject of raging debate among astronomers for more than a quarter of a century.

"Our galaxy is rather mild mannered and quiet and was one of the least likely galaxies to have a black hole at its center," Ghez said at the time.

The Milky Way is one of approximately 100 billion galaxies, each containing at least 100 billion stars.