Neil Gehrels

Neil Gehrels
Born	Cornelis A. Gehrels
Occupation	research scientist, professor, lecturer, author
Known for	Astrophysics researcher
Awards	Henry Draper Medal (2009)

Neil Gehrels (1952) is an astrophysicist specializing in the field of Gamma-ray astronomy.^[1] He graduated in 1976 with Bachelor's degrees in music and physics from the University of Arizona. He received his Ph.D. in physics in 1982 from the California Institute of Technology.^[2] He is married to Ellen Williams, who is a professor of physics at the University of Maryland. They have two children. Tommy (born, 1987) and Emily (born, 1990). His father was Tom Gehrels, also an astronomer.

Career

Dr. Gehrels is currently the Chief of the Astroparticle Physics Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. He is the Principal Investigator for the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission. Other responsibilities include: Project Scientist for the Compton Observatory (1991–2000), Mission Scientist for Mission INTEGRAL Deputy Project Scientist for the Fermi mission and Project Scientist for JDEM. He is also an adjunct professor of astronomy at the University of Maryland and of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State.^[3]

Awards

• 2009, George W. Goddard Award, SPIE
• 2009, Henry Draper Medal, National Academy of Sciences^[4]
• 2008, Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 2007, Bruno Rossi Prize, American Astronomical Society (awarded to the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission)
• 2005, NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
• 2000, Randolph Lovelace Award, American Astronautical Society
• 1993, Fellow, American Physical Society
• 1976-77, Caltech Graduate Fellowship

References

1. ^ "Astronomer to speak on 'Cosmic Catastrophes'" by Tim Stephens (April 19, 1999)
2. ^ Deputy Project Scientist for GLAST
3. ^ Neil Gehrels' Home Page
4. ^ "Henry Draper Medal". National Academy of Sciences. http://www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AWARDS_draper. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 

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Name	Gehrels, Neil
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