Dr. Gioia Rau (name pronounced “Joya”) is an astrophysicist with a wealth of experience in research, strategic leadership, and management.
Dr. Rau has a proven track record of leadership, guiding the development of mission concepts, directing teams of scientists on grants and observing proposals, and overseeing the execution of large scientific projects. Dr. Rau excels at managing large-scale projects and fostering partnerships across sectors. Her pioneering work includes applying AI to advance astrophysical research.
In academia, Dr. Rau serves as Research Assistant Professor at CUA, where she supervises PhD Students, and teaches to undergraduate students in astronomy. Her research focuses on cool evolved stars, and exoplanets, employing AI and other advanced modeling techniques, and data from the most powerful telescopes on earth and in space. She's an expert in high-angular resolution optical and infrared interferometry.
Passionate about science communication, Dr. Rau is a sought-after speaker for outreach events, delivering keynote presentations and engaging talks to bring the wonders of the cosmos to the public.