Dr. Edward L. Wright stands as a preeminent figure in modern cosmology and infrared astronomy with a distinguished career spanning over four decades at the forefront of space-based astronomical research. Currently serving as a distinguished research professor emeritus at the University of California, Los Angeles, he has shaped the field of observational cosmology through his leadership on landmark NASA missions. Dr. Wright received his undergraduate degree in Physics and his PhD in Astronomy from Harvard University, where he conducted pioneering high-altitude rocket measurements of cosmic microwave background radiation. Following a tenure as a tenured associate professor in the MIT Physics Department, he joined UCLA in 1981, where he established himself as a leading authority in infrared astronomy and cosmological measurements.
Dr. Wright's groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of the universe's origins and structure have fundamentally transformed cosmology through his instrumental role in major space missions. As a key member of the Cosmic Background Explorer COBE team since 1978, his work provided the first precise measurements of cosmic microwave background radiation, evidence that would later earn the COBE team the Nobel Prize in Physics. He served as principal investigator for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer WISE mission, which mapped the entire sky in infrared wavelengths, discovering hundreds of millions of celestial objects including previously unknown asteroids and galaxies. His research on fractal dust grains and their interaction with millimeter wavelength radiation has provided critical insights for interpreting cosmic microwave background data, directly influencing subsequent missions like the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe where he served on the science team.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Dr. Wright has profoundly shaped the field through scientific leadership and mentorship, guiding the next generation of astronomers while advancing infrared observational techniques. His service as science editor for The Astrophysical Journal from 1994 to 1998 helped maintain rigorous standards for astronomical research publication during a period of rapid technological advancement. Recognition of his transformative impact includes the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, election to the National Academy of Sciences, and the prestigious Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. Though now in emeritus status, Dr. Wright continues to contribute to cosmological research, with his foundational work on cosmic microwave background radiation and infrared space telescopes remaining essential to ongoing investigations into dark energy, galaxy formation, and the earliest moments of the universe.
