Adam Leibovich (born March 23, 1970) is an American theoretical physicist. He is a full professor and the Bettye J. and Ralph E. Bailey Dean of the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and the College of General Studies at the

University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colle ...

. His research is primarily in

quantum chromodynamics In theoretical physics, quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is the study of the strong interaction between quarks mediated by gluons. Quarks are fundamental particles that make up composite hadrons such as the proton, neutron and pion. QCD is a type of ...

(QCD) and the application of

effective field theory In physics, an effective field theory is a type of approximation, or effective theory, for an underlying physical theory, such as a quantum field theory or a statistical mechanics model. An effective field theory includes the appropriate degrees ...

to problems of

hadron In particle physics, a hadron is a composite subatomic particle made of two or more quarks held together by the strong nuclear force. Pronounced , the name is derived . They are analogous to molecules, which are held together by the electri ...

ic physics, particularly particles containing one or more heavy

quark A quark () is a type of elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nucleus, atomic nuclei ...

s. Leibovich also has worked on gravitational wave physics. He was elected a fellow of the

American Physical Society The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of ...

in 2017 and a fellow of the

American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is a United States–based international nonprofit with the stated mission of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsib ...

in 2018.

Early life and education

Leibovich is the son of Sidney Leibovich, the Samuel B. Eckert Professor of Mechanical Engineering Emeritus at

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

. Adam Leibovich graduated from

with his

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

in physics, magma cum laude with honors, and attended the

California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech) is a private research university in Pasadena, California, United States. The university is responsible for many modern scientific advancements and is among a small group of institutes ...

for his

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

After completing his doctoral degree in 1997, he accepted postdoctoral positions at

Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The institution was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools. In 1912, it became the Carnegie Institu ...

and

Fermilab Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), located in Batavia, Illinois, near Chicago, is a United States Department of Energy United States Department of Energy National Labs, national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle phys ...

Career

Leibovich joined the

's (Pitt) Department of Physics and Astronomy as an

assistant professor Assistant professor is an academic rank just below the rank of an associate professor used in universities or colleges, mainly in the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Overview This position is generally taken after earning a doct ...

of physics in 2003. His research at Pitt focuses on

QCD In theoretical physics Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain, and predict List of natural phenomena, natural phenomena. This is in ...

, heavy

physics, and

gravitational wave Gravitational waves are oscillations of the gravitational field that Wave propagation, travel through space at the speed of light; they are generated by the relative motion of gravity, gravitating masses. They were proposed by Oliver Heaviside i ...

physics. As a result of his research, he received an NSF CAREER award in 2006. A popular instructor, Leibovich has also won teaching awards, including a 2006 Cottrell Scholar from the

Research Corporation Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) is an organization in the United States devoted to the advancement of science, funding research projects in the physical sciences. Since 1912, Research Corporation for Science Advancement has id ...

for Science Advancement and the Tina and David Bellet Teaching Award from the

Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences (Dietrich School or School of Arts and Sciences) is one of the 17 schools and colleges of University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A direct descendant of the 1787-chartered Pittsbur ...

at Pitt in 2010. Leibovich was named a fellow of the

in 2017 and a fellow of the

in 2018. Leibovich was promoted to

associate professor Associate professor is an academic title with two principal meanings: in the North American system and that of the ''Commonwealth system''. In the ''North American system'', used in the United States and many other countries, it is a position ...

with tenure in 2008 and

full professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a 'person who professes'. Professors ...

in 2015. He has held a variety of administrative rules during his time at Pitt, including Chair of Physics and Astronomy from 2015 to 2017, associate dean for Faculty Recruitment and Research Development from 2017 to 2021, and the associate dean for Research and Faculty Development. from 2021 to 2023 in the

where he oversaw research in the School, faculty hiring, and some budgetary issues, among other items. He was the director of the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute from 2022 to 2023. On July 1, 2023, Leibovich started as the Dean of the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and the College of General Studies.

Awards and honors

* 2004 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award * 2006

National Science Foundation The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an Independent agencies of the United States government#Examples of independent agencies, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that su ...

Career Award * 2006 Research Corporation for Science Advancement - Cottrell Scholar Award * 2010 Tina and David Bellet Teaching Excellence Award * 2017 Elected fellow of the

* 2018 Elected fellow of the

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Leibovich, Adam 21st-century American physicists University of Pittsburgh faculty Fellows of the American Physical Society Cornell University alumni California Institute of Technology alumni 1970 births Living people Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Scientists from Ithaca, New York