Alessandro Massarotti

Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy

B.S. Physics, University Of Rome ‘La Sapienza’
Ph.D. Physics, University of Chicago

E-mail: amassarotti@stonehill.edu
Phone: (627) 460-1430
Office: Shields Science Center, 309

Professor Massarotti received his ‘Laurea’ degree in Physics in 1987 from the University of Rome, Italy. He then earned his Ph.D. in Physics at The University Of Chicago, where he worked with David S. Schramm and Edward W. Kolb in the Cosmology Group.

His thesis in Rome dealt with the possible effects of large lepton numbers and low entropy on Big Bang nucleosynthesis. His Ph.D. thesis in Chicago explored the possibility of galaxy formation through the plowing action of topological defects called ‘domain walls’.

From 1993 to 2001 he carried out post-doctoral research at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, first in the Theory Group, then in the Optical and Infrared Division (OIR).

While at Harvard University he kept teaching, first as Head TA then as an Instructor. He currently teaches a course in Astrobiology at the Harvard Summer School. Professor Massarotti joined the Stonehill Department of Physics & Astronomy in the Fall of 2001.

Courses Taught:

• Intermediate Astronomy
• The Universe
• Planets, Moons and the Search for Alien Life
• Physics III Quantum Waves
• Physics II
• Physics I