Yale astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan has been honored with the 2025 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics for her innovative contributions to black hole and dark matter research. The prize, awarded by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP), recognizes exceptional mid-career achievements in astrophysical science. Natarajan is the first Yale faculty member to receive this accolade since the award’s establishment in 1980.
Renowned for her work, Natarajan has advanced theoretical models that explore critical astrophysical phenomena, including the genesis of black holes and the mysteries of dark matter. Her expertise in gravitational lensing has allowed for groundbreaking dark matter mapping, and her studies have shed light on the early universe’s black holes.
Natarajan, the Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor and Chair of Astronomy at Yale, expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am truly delighted and deeply honored by this recognition from the AAS and AIP. It is an exciting period in science, where theoretical and conceptual ideas can be swiftly tested against readily available data.”
A Yale faculty member since 2000, Natarajan also leads the Franke Program in Science and the Humanities. Her illustrious career includes fellowships from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the AAS, and the American Physical Society, along with the Liberty Science Center’s Genius Award. In 2024, she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people globally.
The Dannie Heineman Prize, which carries a $10,000 cash award, was announced on January 16 at the AAS meeting held in National Harbor, Maryland. Natarajan’s recognition highlights her remarkable impact on the field of astrophysics.
