Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Dr Alexandra Pope

In this series of posts, we sit down with a few keynote speakers of the 245th AAS meeting to learn more about them and their research. You can see a full schedule of their talks here and read our other interviews here!


When Dr. Alexandra Pope was an undergraduate student in Canada, she worked on building instruments for astronomy. But her curiosity extended beyond the equipment. “What are we going to do with the data?” she wondered. That question sparked her fascination with astrophysics and set her on a path to becoming a leader in the field.

Dr Alexandra Pope (photo courtesy of Dr Alexandra Pope)

Her journey gained momentum during a visit to the University of British Columbia for graduate school. She stayed with a senior student who had just returned from observing telescopes in Hawaii. “I was sold,” she recalled. For a young aspiring astronomer, the chance to travel and work in such awe-inspiring settings was irresistible. Her time as a graduate student included frequent trips to Mauna Kea, where she built a solid foundation in observational astronomy and discovered an enduring passion for the field. She described the awe of driving to the summit for the first time and witnessing the vast, dark sky in all its glory. “It just hits you because it’s so overwhelming,” she said, recalling the profound impact of that experience. While many telescopes today can be operated remotely, she believes nothing compares to these firsthand experiences for connecting with the wonders of the universe.

During her graduate studies, the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope ignited new opportunities in astronomy. Later, she was awarded the esteemed Spitzer Postdoctoral Fellowship, which brought her to the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (now NOIRLab) to work amidst an inspiring network of collaborators. Today, she is a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and chairs the Five College Astronomy Department.

Her research focuses on understanding how stars and black holes grow inside galaxies, especially those hidden or obscured by cosmic dust. Galaxies shrouded in dust are hard to study because most of their light gets absorbed and re-emitted at longer wavelengths. “A lot of activity from star formation and black hole growth in early galaxies was obscured,” she recalled, noting how ground-based sub-millimeter surveys with SCUBA, an instrument on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii, had discovered these galaxies in the late 1990s. Dr. Pope’s fascination grew as these galaxies, which were predicted to exist by older observations, appeared mysterious and challenging to study due to low angular resolution at longer wavelengths. During her PhD, she focused on understanding these “blobs” of sub-millimeter light and analyzing their appearance at different wavelengths, enjoying the challenge of multi-wavelength analysis. She was drawn to this area of study because it was a young, rapidly evolving field with vast potential for discovery. At the time, there was uncertainty about whether these sources were hidden Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), and the cosmic time frame for their existence was unknown. However, as her career progressed, new facilities like Spitzer, Herschel, Atacama Large Millimeter/Sub-millimeter Array (ALMA), and James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began unveiling more about these galaxies, driving her continued excitement and involvement in the field. 

But there’s still a big question in her field: how do star formation and black hole growth influence each other? At first glance, it seems logical that bigger galaxies would have bigger black holes. But, the evidence linking their co-evolution is far from straightforward. Dr. Pope explains, “We know they’re connected, but we’re still figuring out how.” Observations from JWST have added to the mystery by uncovering massive black holes in surprisingly small, early galaxies. Simulations and models offer vastly different predictions, and recent findings from JWST, such as the discovery of unusually massive black holes in the early universe, have further complicated the picture. “We know there’s something there, but we don’t know the details,” she added. Astronomers like Dr. Pope are piecing together clues from different wavelengths, simulations, and surveys to solve this cosmic puzzle.

Dr. Pope is the Science Lead for PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA), a far-infrared NASA probe mission concept that would fly in the 2030s. While JWST has far exceeded expectations, it has also raised new questions and uncovered puzzles that need further exploration. “Like any good telescope, JWST has brought up more questions than answers,” she noted, referring to the discovery of the little red dots or the unusually massive black holes in the early universe. These findings highlight the need for longer wavelengths where there is no existing telescope facility. PRIMA aims to bridge the gap between JWST and ALMA, covering a broad wavelength range that has never been fully explored before. Unlike previous far-infrared telescopes like Herschel, which lacked the sensitivity for detailed spectroscopy, PRIMA will offer complete spectral coverage with improved spectral survey sensitivity of almost a factor of a million, enabling astronomers to detect a wider variety of cosmic phenomena. Dr. Pope emphasized the importance of PRIMA’s ability to measure the spectrum at each pixel of the image (hyperspectral imaging), allowing detailed study of planet-forming disks, galaxies, black holes, and dust in the early universe. By filling this far-infrared gap, PRIMA will offer a deeper understanding of astronomical objects and complement other major observatories like JWST and ALMA.

Beyond her groundbreaking research, Dr. Pope is passionate about mentoring the next generation of astronomers, reflecting on how strong mentors shaped her career and inspired her approach as a professor. For Dr. Pope, mentorship is not just about teaching astronomy or technical skills but about helping students build confidence and establish their identity as scientists. To support this, she employs structured feedback through evaluation rubrics tailored to each student’s level, whether undergraduates, graduates, or postdocs, identifying areas for growth and setting personalized goals. She also provides opportunities for skill development, such as giving presentations, refining writing, and gaining professional exposure through conferences and collaborations. Dr. Pope values the importance of helping students build their networks by connecting them with collaborators and creating opportunities for them to take ownership of projects. Reflecting on her 14 years as a professor, she described mentoring as the most fulfilling part of her role, particularly seeing her former students excel and mentor their own students—a testament to the enduring impact of thoughtful mentorship. Her dedication to mentorship and research has earned her the 2024 ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentor Award and the 2018 Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award at UMass.

At the AAS245, Dr. Pope will highlight how star formation and black hole growth are connected. She plans to introduce this fascinating problem and highlight the diverse observational and theoretical techniques used to tackle it. A key focus will be the importance of infrared observations, as many of these processes are obscured by dust. Dr. Pope will share new results from JWST programs investigating this connection while considering how future instruments like PRIMA could extend these studies to higher redshifts. Researchers can build a comprehensive picture of their co-evolution by conducting statistical surveys of galaxies at varying redshifts and types. Thanks to researchers like Dr. Pope, we’re closer than ever to understanding these cosmic connections—and uncovering the secrets of the universe.

Join Dr. Alexandra Pope on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 11:40 AM ET for her plenary lecture, “Galaxy Evolution Eras Tour: The Formative Years of Star Formation and Supermassive Black Hole Growth,” and discover how galaxies and black holes shaped the universe’s history.


Edited by: Megan Masterson

Featured Image Credit: AAS

Author

  • Sowkhya Shanbhog

    I am currently a first-year PhD student at Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy, where I am focusing on studying high redshift quasars. Prior to this, I completed a dual BS-MS degree at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune, India. Now, I am eager to expand my involvement in science communication and outreach initiatives. I have recently developed an interest in cooking, particularly since moving to a new city. I find solace in listening to music during my leisure time.

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