Rachel Bean is a

cosmologist 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 wor ...

theoretical astrophysicist 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 ...

, professor of

astronomy Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and the phenomena that occur in the cosmos. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and their overall evolution. Objects of interest includ ...

, and senior associate dean for math and science at the College of Arts and Sciences 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 ...

Education

Bean received her bachelor's degree in natural sciences from 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 ...

in 1995. After graduation, she worked in the strategy division at

Accenture Accenture plc is a global multinational professional services company originating in the United States and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, that specializes in information technology (IT) services and management consulting. It was founded in 1 ...

, and then obtained her master's degree in 1999 and doctorate degree in 2002 in theoretical physics from

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 ...

. Following this, she was a postdoctoral research Fellow for Princeton University before being hired as a professor for Cornell's Department of Astronomy.

Career

In 2005, Bean became a faculty member at

, where her research focuses on cosmological tests of the nature of

dark energy In physical cosmology and astronomy, dark energy is a proposed form of energy that affects the universe on the largest scales. Its primary effect is to drive the accelerating expansion of the universe. It also slows the rate of structure format ...

and gravity, and the physical origins of primordial

inflation In economics, inflation is an increase in the average price of goods and services in terms of money. This increase is measured using a price index, typically a consumer price index (CPI). When the general price level rises, each unit of curre ...

, using data from large-scale structure and the

cosmic microwave background The cosmic microwave background (CMB, CMBR), or relic radiation, is microwave radiation that fills all space in the observable universe. With a standard optical telescope, the background space between stars and galaxies is almost completely dar ...

. She is actively involved in a number of international astronomical surveys, including the

Large Synoptic Survey Telescope The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, formerly known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), is an astronomy, astronomical observatory in Chile. Its main task will be carrying out a synoptic astronomical survey, the Legacy Survey of Space and Tim ...

(LSST), the

Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is a scientific research instrument for conducting spectrographic astronomical surveys of distant galaxies. Its main components are a focal plane containing 5,000 fiber-positioning robots, and a bank ...

(DESI), and the Euclid space mission. During her time at Cornell University, Bean served as the Senior Associate Dean for the university's Undergraduate Education department, where she was responsible for designing the curriculum, overseeing admissions into the program, and career development, among other things. On July 13, 2023, Bean succeeded

Ray Jayawardhana Ray Jayawardhana is provost and professor of physics and astronomy at Johns Hopkins University. Prior to this, from 2018 to 2023, he was the Harold Tanner Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a Professor of Astronomy at Cornell Universi ...

as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, where she was later named the Senior Associate Dean for Math and Science. While she held this position within the university, she was partially responsible for introducing the data science minor to the school's Undergraduate Program.

Involvement

Astronomical Experiments

* Vera Rubin Telescope (LSST) *

(DESI) *

Euclid Euclid (; ; BC) was an ancient Greek mathematician active as a geometer and logician. Considered the "father of geometry", he is chiefly known for the '' Elements'' treatise, which established the foundations of geometry that largely domina ...

and Roman Space Telescope missions. (NASA)

Sub-Millimeter Experiments

Atacama Cosmology Telescope The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) was a cosmological millimeter-wave telescope located on Cerro Toco in the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile. ACT made high-sensitivity, arcminute resolution, microwave-wavelength surveys of the sky in or ...

(ACT) *

Simons Observatory The Simons Observatory is located in the high Atacama Desert in Northern Chile inside the Chajnator Science Preserve, at an altitude of 5,200 meters (17,000 ft). The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and the Simons Array were located nearby ...

* Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) During her time spent on her many collaborative experiments, Bean was the collaboration leader on the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration, which involved more than 500 international scientists. She also served as a member of th
U.S. Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Council

Awards

* 2007

NASA Group Achievement Award The NASA Group Achievement Award (GAA) is an award given by NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the U ...

(for the results of the

WMAP The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), originally known as the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP and Explorer 80), was a NASA spacecraft operating from 2001 to 2010 which measured temperature differences across the sky in the cosmic mic ...

mission) * 2008 Cottrell Scholar Award, Research Corporation. * 2010

Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) is the highest honor bestowed by the United States federal government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers. T ...

(PECASE) * 2012

Gruber Prize in Cosmology The Gruber Prize in Cosmology, established in 2000, is one of three prestigious international awards worth US$500,000 awarded by the Gruber Foundation, a non-profit organization based at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Since 2001, t ...

, for the results of the

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), originally known as the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP and Explorer 80), was a NASA spacecraft operating from 2001 to 2010 which measured temperature differences across the sky in the cosmic mic ...

(WMAP) mission * 2016 Fellow,

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 ...

* 2018

Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics is one of the Breakthrough Prizes, awarded by the Breakthrough Prize Board. Initially named Fundamental Physics Prize, it was founded in July 2012 by Russia-born Israeli entrepreneur, venture capit ...

(for the results of the

mission)

References

External links

Biography
at the Department of Physics,

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bean, Rachel Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Fellows of the American Physical Society Cornell University faculty Alumni of the University of Cambridge Alumni of Imperial College London Recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers 21st-century American women scientists 21st-century American astronomers 21st-century American physicists American astrophysicists American women astrophysicists American university and college faculty deans Women deans (academic) 21st-century women physicists