Astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan Wins 2025 Dannie Heineman Prize

Photo: news.yale.edu

India-West News Desk

NEW HAVEN, CT – Yale astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan has been awarded the 2025 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics in recognition of her groundbreaking research in black holes and dark matter. The Heineman Prize, presented by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP), honors mid-career excellence in astrophysical research. Natarajan is the first Yale faculty member to receive the prestigious award since its inception in 1980.

Natarajan’s research has significantly advanced theoretical models addressing fundamental astrophysical questions, particularly the formation of black holes and the nature of dark matter. She has been a key figure in using gravitational lensing to map dark matter and has made important contributions to the study of black holes in the early universe.

“I am delighted and deeply honored to be recognized by the AAS and AIP,” said Natarajan, the Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor and Chair of Astronomy at Yale. “It’s an exciting time in science where conceptual and theoretical ideas can be tested rapidly against available data.”

A faculty member at Yale since 2000, Natarajan also directs the Franke Program in Science and the Humanities. Her career has been marked by numerous accolades, including fellowships from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the AAS, and the American Physical Society, as well as the Liberty Science Center’s Genius Award. In 2024, she was named to Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

The Heineman Prize, which includes a $10,000 award, was announced on January 16 at the AAS meeting in National Harbor, Maryland.