Hi! I’m a cosmologist.
About Me
I grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I got my bachelor’s degree in Physics. After leaving Argentina, I completed my PhD in Astrophysics at Princeton University. I then moved on to University of Oxford as a Beecroft Research Fellow. I held a Royal Astronomical Society Research fellowship at Oxford, where I was also a JRF at Wolfson college. I am now based at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of Utrecht University.
I study the nature of dark energy from observational measurements of the shapes of galaxies. A phenomenon known as gravitational lensing distorts galaxy shapes and allows us, through its measurement, to study the composition and evolution of the Universe.
Gravitational tides can also leave a mark on galaxy shapes, and I have been studying them from multiple perspectives: analytical, numerical and observational to figure out why, how and which galaxies align across the structure of the Universe and how this interplays with the lensing effect.
I am involved in several major astronomical surveys, such as the ongoing Kilo-Degree Survey, and the upcoming LSST and Euclid.
In my free time, I like to read, travel and dance tango.
My research
I use large-scale numerical simulations to study the structure of the Universe. My core research program focuses on studying how galaxies align with each other within the cosmic web. Image credit: J. Devriendt and the Hz-AGN team. 
I put models of the Universe to the test using observations from the Kilo-Degree Survey on ESO’s Vista Survey Telescope. Image credit: ESO. 
I actively participate in the next generation of cosmology experiments dedicated to investigate dark energy, such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and ESA’s Euclid. Image credit: LSST/NSF/Aura.
My publications
You can find my publications (openly accessible) via the arxiv.
Scientific software
I led the construction of the “Core Cosmology Library” (CCL) for the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration. This tool makes all the theory predictions needed by the experiment in order to study dark energy. The software is publicly available here.
Talks
Would you like to see and hear more about my research? Here are some recent talks I have given: RAS fellowship talk (02/2020) & Seminar at CCA/Simons foundation (02/19)
Public engagement
Astrobites
I spent two years writing for astrobites.org in our mission to bring research to undergraduate students in astrophysics.
Today, I remain involved in astrobites through multiple efforts to support the site. Most recently, we put out an Astro2020 paper on astrobites as a model for education, science communication and accessibility in astrophysics.
Astrobites in Spanish
In 2015, I was one of the founders of astrobitos.org, a blog that follows similar principles to astrobites, but bringing day-to-day research and career guidance to Spanish-speaking students.
Like astrobites, astrobitos is proudly supported by the American Astronomical Society.
Outreach
I enjoy talking to the public about space! I have wide experience in outreach. You see me here explaining solar flares to the attendees of one of our public telescope observing nights at Princeton.
Would you like to hear me speak about Stephen Hawking and his key contributions to science? See this talk at Studium Generale.
Contact
Get in Touch
I am now based at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of Utrecht University. You can contact me at:
Elisa Chisari 