Professor Frebel is a world leading expert in the search for and analysis of 13-billion-year-old stars. Using those ancient stars, she studies origin of the chemical elements and the formation of our Milky Way galaxy. For her discoveries and her mentoring, she has received numerous honors and awards.

In 2016 she was named one of ScienceNews Magazine’s “Ten Scientists to Watch”. Her research journey is detailed in her popular science book “Searching for the oldest stars: Ancient Relics from the Early Universe” (Princeton University Press).

Prof. Frebel co-founded “LEAPS — Leadership and Professional Strategies and Skills”, an MIT course for graduate students and postdocs. She is also part of the global leadership program “Homeward Bound”. As a single mother of two young boys, Prof. Frebel enjoys cycling, building Lego, and playing card games.