Vikram Ravi
Vikram Ravi
Professor of Astronomy
B.S., Australian National University, 2009; Ph.D., University of Melbourne, 2014. Visiting Associate, Caltech 2018-19; Assistant Professor, 2019-25; Professor, 2025-.
Research Interests: Neutron star and Black Holes, Diffuse and Dark Universe, Radio and Optical-wavelength Experiments and Facilities
Overview
I am a Professor of Astronomy in the Caltech astronomy department. Between 2015-18, I was a Millikan Fellow in Astronomy at Caltech, and I spent 2018-19 as a Clay Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard and Smithsonian. My professional focus is on exploring, understanding and bulding radio- and optical-wavelength instruments to observe the relativistic and unseen universe. I study neutron stars and black holes, and associated phenomena that vary on time-scales of nanoseconds to years. I also seek to understand the distribution and physical nature of diffuse/hot baryons within, around and in between galaxies, and dark matter.
Selected Awards
- Sloan Research Fellowship, 2024
- Stefano Braccini Thesis Prize, Gravitational Wave International Committee, 2016
- Charlene Heisler Thesis Prize, Astronomical Society of Australia, 2016
Selected Awards
- Sloan Research Fellowship, 2024
- Stefano Braccini Thesis Prize, Gravitational Wave International Committee, 2016
- Charlene Heisler Thesis Prize, Astronomical Society of Australia, 2016
Public Outreach Activities
- Great Basin Astronomy Festival speaker, 2024
- Bishop Astronomy on Tap speaker, 2022
- Los Angeles Astronomy on Tap speaker, 2018
- Palomar Observatory, Greenway Lecturer, 2016-2017
- Blue Dot program, North State Public Radio, 2016
- Facilitator with Pulse@Parkes project, 2009-2018
Public Outreach Activities
- Great Basin Astronomy Festival speaker, 2024
- Bishop Astronomy on Tap speaker, 2022
- Los Angeles Astronomy on Tap speaker, 2018
- Palomar Observatory, Greenway Lecturer, 2016-2017
- Blue Dot program, North State Public Radio, 2016
- Facilitator with Pulse@Parkes project, 2009-2018
PhD Thesis: Evincing the histories of the cosmic supermassive black hole and galaxy populations with gravitational waves
Related News
Read more newsRelated Courses
Ay 102. Physics of the Interstellar Medium.
9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2026-27.
Prerequisites: Ay 20 is recommended. Ph 2 abc or Ph 12 abc is recommended.
An introduction to observations of the interstellar medium and relevant physical processes. Phases of the gaseous interstellar medium. Thermal balance in neutral and ionized gas. Molecular gas and star formation. Hot ionized gas. Structure and hydrodynamic evolution of ISM regions near massive stars; supernovae shocks. Global models for the interstellar medium. Interstellar and circumstellar dust.
Instructor: Ravi
Instructor: Ravi
Ay 141 abc. Research Conference in Astronomy.
2 units (1-0-1); first, second, third terms, 2026-27.
Oral reports on current research in astronomy, providing students an opportunity for practice in the organization and presentation of technical material. A minimum of two presentations will be expected from each student each year. In addition, students are encouraged to participate in a public-level representation of the same material for posting to an outreach website. This course fulfills the option communication requirement and is required of all astronomy graduate students who have passed their qualifying exam. It is also recommended for astronomy seniors; non-seniors can attend but cannot take the course for credit. Graded pass/fail.
Instructors: Steidel, Hallinan, Ravi
Instructors: Steidel, Hallinan, Ravi