Andrea Valerio Macciò

Professor of Physics; Global Network Professor of Physics Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: MB in Physics, University of Milano; PhD in Astrophysics, University of Milano-Bicocca

Research Websites: Galaxy Formation Group Center for Astrophysics and Space Science

Research Areas: Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Galaxies, Black Holes


Professor Andrea Macciò is interested in understanding the nature and origin of the mysterious dark components of our cosmos: dark energy and dark matter, which account for 95 percent of the total energy/matter budget of the universe. In order to achieve this goal, he studies the formation and evolution of galaxies in such a dark universe via large computer numerical simulations.

Professor Macciò's interests include the effect of dark energy on structure formation, the properties of dark matter halos, and the distribution of dark matter within galaxies, the formation of massive galaxies and their super massive black holes.

Professor Macciò graduated in Physics at the University of Milano and then he obtained a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Milano-Bicocca. As a postdoctoral fellow, he first worked at the University of Zurich and then at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg. Starting from September 2010, he obtained a Group Leader (W2 professor) position from the President of the Max Planck Society and led for five years the "Galaxy Formation in a Dark Universe" group at the Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg.

Professor Macciò joined NYUAD in 2015 as Associate Professor of Physics, At NYUAD, he and his group of researchers will continue to explore how galaxies form and evolve during cosmic times in a dark universe.

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