Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz

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Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Ramirez-Ruiz was born and raised in Mexico City. [2] [3] . Ramirez-Ruiz completed his undergraduate studies in physics at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. [2] He completed his doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge. [2]

Career

Ramirez-Ruiz holds the Vera Rubin Presidential Chair in Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Santa Cruz. [2] He was a NASA Chandra and Bahcall Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. [2] He was inducted to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020 and the Mexican Academy of Sciences in 2010. [1] [4] [5] In 2019, he received the HEAD Mid-Career Prize from the American Astronomical Society. In 2021, he was awarded the Dwight Nicholson Medal for Outreach by the American Physical Society. [2] Ramirez-Ruiz is also the Niels Bohr professor at University of Copenhagen. [6]

Ramirez-Ruiz founded the Lamat Institute at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2009 to provide research opportunities in STEM for undergraduates who want to transfer to four-year universities and attend graduate school. [3] [7] The philosophy of the Lamat Institute is based on the promotion of effective mentorship and critical research project design. [7]  In February 2022, Ramirez-Ruiz received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring for creating the Lamat Institute and expanding research programs in STEM. [3] [8]

As a theoretical astrophysicist, Ramirez-Ruiz uses computer simulations to explore transient phenomena such as collisions, mergers, and disruptions of stars - especially those involving compact objects like black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs. [2] [4] [9] Both black holes and neutron stars can generate copious gravitational waves when they collide and merge. Because of this, simulations of such encounters play an essential role in the ongoing efforts to detect gravitational waves. [2] [4] [9]  In general, all these phenomena, from extreme matter to event horizons and gravitational waves, cannot be created in a laboratory. Instead, we have no choice but to create virtual laboratories on Earth, in order to simulate all the relevant physics in large-scale computational experiments. [2] [9]

Ramirez-Ruiz was named president of the board of Astronomical Society of the Pacific in June 2025. [10]

Selected publications

References

  1. 1 2 "Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Faculty Directory". www.astro.ucsc.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "UCSC astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz is a star teacher and mentor". Lookout Local Santa Cruz. 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  4. 1 2 3 Stephens, Tim. "Astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz named to Mexican Academy of Sciences". UC Santa Cruz News. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  5. ↑ "Admisión de Nuevos Miembros 2010". www.amc.mx. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  6. ↑ Ramirez-Ruiz, Enrico. "Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz | Speaker | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  7. 1 2 "Lamat Institute – Stellar opportunities for early career scientists". lamat.science.ucsc.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  8. ↑ "Celebrating UC changemakers: Meet 10 Latino leaders creating a more equitable future for us all". University of California. 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  9. 1 2 3 "Prize Recipient". www.aps.org. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  10. ↑ Peña, Mike (June 23, 2025). "Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz named president of Astronomical Society of the Pacific". UCSC News.
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