Amir Siraj

Siraj earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Harvard University,^[5] and is currently pursuing his PhD at Princeton University.^[6] His research is primarily focused on interstellar objects,^[7][8] asteroids and comets,^[9][10] planetary system formation and evolution,^[11][12] supernovae,^[13] black holes,^[14] dark matter,^[15] and the search for life in the universe.^[16] Recently, he proposed the existence of unseen captured planets in the outer solar system.^{[17][18][19][20]} He discovered CNEOS 2014-01-08,^[21] the first known interstellar meteor,^[22][23] and as the Director of Interstellar Object Studies at the Galileo Project, is involved with the search and discovery mission for the interstellar object.^[22] His research was named one of CNN's extraordinary cosmic revelations and moments in space exploration in 2022.^[24] He was the youngest scientist named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2021,^[1] and Astronomy magazine named him a rising star in astronomy in 2022.^[25] He also contributes to Scientific American.^[26]

An active concert pianist,^[27] Siraj is a Young Steinway Artist^[28] and US Presidential Scholar in the Arts.^[2] He graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a master's degree in 2023.^[29] He has performed with Yo-Yo Ma at UNESCO and the United Nations General Assembly.^[30][31][32] He played at the Atlantic Council's Global Citizen Awards for Justin Trudeau,^[33] as well as at the GRAMMY Salute to Classical Music at Carnegie Hall,^[34] at The Cliburn^[35] and at the opening concert for the Swiss Alps Classics.^[36]

At the Aspen Center for Physics, he moderated a panel discussion that brought top composers and physicists together in conversation.^[37] In partnership with the National Park Foundation and From the Top, he established Music For The Parks.^[38][39]