Renée Hložek, Associate Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, is deepening our understanding of the universe by exploring the fundamental nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Hložek develops innovative methods to probe how the cosmos expands and evolves over time using precise measurements of signals from the afterglow of the Big Bang and from explosions of distant supernovae. She leads international efforts to test the properties of ultra-light fields called axions—potential candidates for dark matter—and has created new tools to improve how scientists analyse massive astronomical datasets. Her work with cutting-edge telescopes, such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, will expand our knowledge of the universe’s composition. She is also applying astronomical techniques to neuroscience, using image analysis methods from cosmology to study brain cell activity and early signs of neurodegeneration.

From the earliest origins of the universe to the inner workings of the brain, Hložek’s work promises breakthroughs in fundamental physics and biology that will offer broad benefits for science and society.