Antonios Kontos

Assistant Professor of Physics

Primary Academic Program: Physics

Biography: Professor Kontos came to Bard following three years as a postdoctoral research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. He also served two years as a research associate at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Lab at Michigan State University. His research centers on terrestrial experiments that aid our understanding of astrophysical processes. His particle accelerator work on nuclear reactions has informed models of nucleosynthesis in giant stars, novae, and the big bang; and his more recent work on precision optomechanical measurements was critical to the first experimental detection of gravitational waves last year. In addition to the paper announcing this discovery, he has coauthored 30 other peer-reviewed publications. He plans to continue investigations into classical and quantum processes in precision interferometers by creating an optics lab at Bard that involves student researchers.

Diploma in Physics, National Technical University of Athens; M.S., Ph.D., University of Notre Dame. At Bard since 2017.
Email:
Location: Rose Science Laboratories
Office: Room 115