Anne-Christine Davis is a British

theoretical physicist Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain, and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experi ...

at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

. She was the first woman to be appointed a

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...

in the Faculty of Mathematics at the University. Her research mainly concerns

cosmology Cosmology () is a branch of physics and metaphysics dealing with the nature of the universe, the cosmos. The term ''cosmology'' was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's ''Glossographia'', with the meaning of "a speaking of the wo ...

astrophysics Astrophysics is a science that employs the methods and principles of physics and chemistry in the study of astronomical objects and phenomena. As one of the founders of the discipline, James Keeler, said, astrophysics "seeks to ascertain the ...

and

string theory In physics, string theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings. String theory describes how these strings propagate through space and intera ...

. Davis was a graduate student at

Bristol University The University of Bristol is a public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Bristol, which had ...

, under the supervision of W. Noel Cottingham. She obtained her doctorate in 1975. Following postdoctoral positions at

Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...

and

Imperial College London Imperial College London, also known as Imperial, is a Public university, public research university in London, England. Its history began with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who envisioned a Al ...

, Davis worked overseas at

CERN The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN (; ; ), is an intergovernmental organization that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. Established in 1954, it is based in Meyrin, western suburb of Gene ...

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

, Switzerland (where she became the first female theoretician) and at the

Institute for Advanced Study The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) is an independent center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry located in Princeton, New Jersey. It has served as the academic home of internationally preeminent scholars, including Albert Ein ...

in Princeton. Since 1983 she has held positions at DAMTP, Cambridge, and

King's College, Cambridge King's College, formally The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, is a List of colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college lies beside the River Cam and faces ...

. From 2002 to 2013 she was Professor of Theoretical Physics at DAMTP and from 2013 to 2018 she held the "Professorship of Mathematical Physics (1967)". She has been a member of the General Board and the Council of the University of Cambridge. Davis' recent work has focused on particle cosmology, in particular investigating the chameleon theory and its relation to f(R) theory.

Early life

Davis first became interested in science at the age of five. She then became the only woman at her school to pursue A-levels in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Positions by year

* 2014 University Gender Equality Champion for

STEMM Stemm may refer to: * Stemm (band), an American metal band * STEMM, abbreviation for Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine * Stemm, Indiana, a community in the US See also * Stem (disambiguation) Stem or STEM most commonly r ...

subjects * 2013–2018 Professor of Mathematical Physics (1967), DAMTP, Cambridge University * 2002-2013 Professor of Theoretical Physics, DAMTP, Cambridge University * 1996-2000 Reader in Theoretical Physics, DAMTP * 1995-1996 ADR—DAMTP * 1988-1995 College Teaching Officer, Kings College Cambridge * 1983-1988 Research Council Advanced Fellow, DAMTP Cambridge University * 1982-1983 Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, USA * 1980-1982 Fellow, Theory Division, CERN, Geneva * 1978-1980 Postdoctoral research associate in theoretical physics, Blackett Physics Laboratory Imperial College, London * 1976-1978 Postdoctoral research associate in theoretical physics, Mathematics Department,

Recognition

In 2009 she was elected to the

Academia Europaea The Academia Europaea is a pan-European Academy of humanities, letters, law, and sciences. The Academia was founded in 1988 as a functioning Europe-wide Academy that encompasses all fields of scholarly inquiry. It acts as co-ordinator of Europe ...

. In 2019 she won the

Institute of Physics The Institute of Physics (IOP) is a UK-based not-for-profit learned society and professional body that works to advance physics education, physics research, research and applied physics, application. It was founded in 1874 and has a worldwide ...

Richard Glazebrook Medal and Prize The Richard Glazebrook Medal and Prize is awarded annually by the Institute of Physics to recognise leadership in the field of physics. It was established in 1966 and named in honour of Sir Richard T. Glazebrook, the first president of the Insti ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Anne Christine British physicists British theoretical physicists Living people Alumni of the University of Bristol Cambridge mathematicians Year of birth missing (living people) People associated with CERN Members of Academia Europaea Academics of Durham University