Laura Lopez
Contact Information
Professor
she/her
Areas of Expertise
- Interstellar Medium
- High-Energy Astrophysics
- Supernovae and Compact Objects
- Galactic Winds
Education
- Ph.D. 2011, Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of California at Santa Cruz
- M.S. 2007, Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of California at Santa Cruz
- S.B. 2004, Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Prof. Lopez is a multiwavelength observer who is broadly interested in topics related to stellar feedback, supernovae (SNe), galactic winds, and the interstellar medium (ISM) in galaxies. Prof. Lopez aims to bridge the gap between observations and theory by developing meaningful ways to compare theoretical predictions to observational results. Prof. Lopez uses observational facilities which cover the entire electromagnetic spectrum - radio, mm, infrared, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray - to have a complete view of the relevant processes in galaxies and the ISM. In addition to her research, Prof. Lopez is also deeply committed to enhancing the participation and retention of students in the sciences. Prof. Lopez was awarded the Annie Jump Cannon Award of the American Astronomical Society in 2016, a Cottrell Scholar Award in 2019, the AAS High-Energy Astrophysics Dvision Early Career Prize in 2022, the OSU College of Arts & Sciences Diversity Enhancement Faculty Award in 2022, the OSU College of Arts & Sciences Mid-Career Faculty Excellence Award in 2025, a AAS Fellowship in 2025, the Nancy Grace Roman Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 2025, and the American Physical Society Edward A. Bouchet Award in 2026. She has been a professor at OSU since 2015.