I get a lot of email! Here are some of the things I am asked most frequently, in case I am unable to reply.
How is your name pronounced? REE-sa (like Lisa) WEX-ler
What do you study? I'm a cosmologist—I study the origin, structure, and evolution of the universe, and also an astrophysicist—interested in the physics that drives how stars, galaxies, black holes, gas, dust, and astrophysical objects work. I am particularly interested in a better understanding of the basic questions "what is the universe made of?" and "how did we get here?" The answers to these questions are deeply connected to understanding the "dark" part of the universe that is not made of the same kind of material that you and I are. You can learn more about my work at the Research page, and more about my team on the GFC Group Site.
I am interested in doing my PhD with your group. Do I need to email you ahead of time, will you meet with me to discuss your research ahead of time, are you taking new students this year, and will you respond to my email about this? No, very unlikely, maybe, and maybe. But I encourage you to apply! Application to the Stanford PhD program is through the physics department; students are not admitted to individual research groups. I get too many requests to be able to meet with students individually before they have been admitted. On average, I take about one new graduate student per year from students that are admitted to the program. I try to reply to inquiries to make sure you have the relevant information, but these emails often slip through the cracks. In any case, all of the most relevant information can be found on the physics graduate admissions page and on this page for prospective graduate students at KIPAC. Emailing me ahead of time will not help your chances of admission to the program.
Will you speak at my event? I selectively accept invitations for public lectures, panels, and other speaking engagements. Please contact me with details about your event, including the date, venue, audience, and topic. Note that my schedule is often booked several months in advance.
Can I interview you for an article or podcast? I'm happy to discuss my research and science more broadly with journalists and media producers. Please contact me with information about your outlet, topic, and timeline.
Will you answer my question about my theory of the Universe? I love talking to people about science, but I can't keep up with the volume of questions on these topics well enough to reply thoughtfully. There is a lot of information available -- I encourage you to keep learning and reading about the universe!
Why haven't you answered my email? I love hearing from people and in an ideal world I answer all of the email I get quickly. But there are just not enough hours in the day! Sometimes I catch up later, and sometimes not -- thanks for your patience!