A Harvard astronomer, economist and psychologist have claimed three of the 100 prestigious Sloan Fellowships, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation announced March 25.
The junior professors-Assistant Professor of Astronomy Dimitar D. Sasselov, Kahn Associate Professor of Economics Caroline M. Hoxby '88 and Assistant Professor of Psychology Daniel J. Simons-were each awarded $35,000. The foundation provides the funds to young scientists and economists for use in two-year research programs supervised by their individual departments.
Twenty-three previous winners have also received Nobel Prizes.
"It is very good to be acknowledged in this way. It's an award for young people, so it acknowledges potential," said Sasselov, who is also a researcher with the Harvard Observatory.
Sasselov, notified of his award in February, said he plans to spend his fellowship studying newly discovered solar systems.
His area of expertise is stellar physics, with a special interest in extra-solar planets-planets that revolve around stars other than the sun.
"Up until three years ago we had one example of such a solar system: ours. Now we know of approximately 20 stars that have planets," Sasselov said. "I need a lot of computer power to produce theoretical models of other planets around stars, and such computers cost lots of money so that's what I'll be using the money for."
The foundation looks nationwide and in Canada for top researchers, alerted about potential candidates by the department chairs in economics and science at various universities.
A committee of 18, including three to four people from each discipline, selects the finalists. Research, letters of recommendations and thenominee's accomplishments are all considered inthe final decision, according to Sasselov. One of Hoxby's colleagues, Loeb Professor ofSocial Sciences David M. Cutler, said he wasthrilled at the success of his junior colleague. "She a fantastic researcher and a great teacherwho is very deserving of such an award," Cutlersaid. Hoxby's previous research topics include themarket for higher education, public schoolfinance, competition among public schools, privateschool vouchers, charter school evaluation,immigrants and minorities in higher education andteachers' unions. Simons teaches Psychology 13, "CognitivePsychology," and his research interests includevisual cognition, representation, perceptionmemory and cognitive development, according to hisWeb site. Hoxby and Simons could not be reached forcomment yesterday
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