Eric D.

Isaacs

As the 11th President of Carnegie, Eric Isaacs developed new institutional partnerships, expanded interdisciplinary research efforts, and ensured Carnegie Science researchers access to the most advance scientific tools of the day.

Under Isaacs’s leadership, Carnegie Science reshaped its scientific focus into three primary research areas: astronomy, Earth and planetary sciences, and life and environmental sciences. This reorganization strengthened the institution’s interdisciplinary research capabilities, creating a cohesive vision for the future of basic science exploration.

Among his notable achievements, Isaacs successfully raised $200 million to support new research initiatives, ensuring the institution’s ability to explore the future. He also orchestrated the consolidation of Carnegie’s Biosphere Sciences & Engineering (BSE) research operations to Pasadena, California. This move enhanced the potential for cross-disciplinary collaborations with Caltech and other institutions and positioned Carnegie Science as the global leader in scientific innovation.

Isaacs also was essential in advancing the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) project, laying the groundwork for potential National Science Foundation funding. The GMT, a next-generation ground-based telescope, represents a cornerstone of U.S. astronomy and is poised to deliver groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in the decades to come.