Theoretical Physicist Named National Geographic Emerging Explorer

18 September 2006—Stephon Alexander, assistant professor of physics and of astronomy and astrophysics, has been named a 2006 National Geographic Emerging Explorer in recognition of his research exploring the secrets of the early universe, at the intersection of fundamental physics and cosmology. 

Stephon Alexander has research interests that include investigations at the interface between cosmology and such fundamental areas of physics as string theory-which attempts to merge quantum mechanics with Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity as a description of fundamental physics-and quantum gravity-which attempts to merge two theories that describe the four fundamental forces of nature into a unified "theory of everything." He also is working on ways to use gravitational waves to probe the connection between inflationary theory-which describes the epoch in the universes' past when it rapidly expanded from a microscopic size to the size that we observe today-and the origin of matter in the universe. Alexander's research also includes efforts to use quantum gravity in order to understanding the cosmological constant-also known as dark energy.

Alexander's work has been recognized with a Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) postdoctoral fellowship in 2000, a Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GANN) Fellowship in 1998, and a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) fellowship in 1997. He was selected as a New England Board of Higher Education Scholar in 1994, and won a Hansiker Award from Haverford College Department of Mathematics in 1990. 

In addition to his published scientific papers, Alexander has presented invited talks at universities and institutes across the United States and in Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Greece, Jamaica, and Brazil. He also has participated in scientific conferences and workshops in Brazil, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Morocco, the U.K., and the U.S.

Prior to joining Penn State during the fall semester of 2005, Alexander was a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University from 2002 to 2005. He had been a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College in the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2002 and was a visiting postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University from 2001 to 2002. He also conducted research in structural biophysics at Harvard University from 1994 to 1995.

Alexander earned his bachelor's degree in physics at Haverford College in 1993. At Brown University, he earned master's degrees in physics in 1995, a master's degree in electrical engineering in 1996, and a doctoral degree in physics in 2000. 

National Geographic's Emerging Explorers Program recognizes and supports uniquely gifted and inspiring adventurers, scientists, photographers and storytellers who are making a significant contribution to world knowledge through exploration while still early in their careers. The Emerging Explorers each receive an award of $10,000 to assist with their research and to aid further exploration. The program is supported by Microsoft and the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation.

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