Pierre Sokolsky

Pierre Sokolsky is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy and Dean Emeritus of the College of Science at the University of Utah. A prominent figure in Space Science, his work focuses on ultra-high-energy cosmic ray physics. He received a BA from the University of Chicago in 1967, an MS in 1969, and a PhD in physics in 1973 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After postdoctoral research at Columbia University, he joined the University of Utah faculty in 1981 and was promoted to full professor in 1988. Sokolsky chaired the Department of Physics and Astronomy from August 2003 to July 2007 and served as Dean of the College of Science from 2007 to 2014. In this role, he expanded research initiatives, including launching a comprehensive astronomy program offering undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Sokolsky pioneered the atmospheric fluorescence technique for detecting ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, leading the High Resolution Fly's Eye (HiRes) experiment and the Telescope Array project, a $17 million international effort with collaborators from U.S. and Japanese institutions. His research has produced key observations of the cosmic ray energy spectrum, composition changes, and correlations with nearby extragalactic objects. Notable publications include the textbook Introduction to Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Ray Physics and highly cited papers such as "Correlation of the highest-energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects" (2007, 1326 citations), "Detection of a cosmic ray with measured energy well beyond the expected spectral cutoff" (1995, 1076 citations), and "The cosmic-ray energy spectrum observed by the Fly's Eye" (1994, 941 citations). Sokolsky's contributions have earned him the Sloan Fellowship (1977), Guggenheim Fellowship (2002), American Physical Society Fellowship (2002), Utah Governor's Medal for Science and Technology (2006), Panofsky Prize (2008), and 2025 Yodh Prize. With over 12,000 citations, his advancements have profoundly impacted astroparticle physics and cosmic ray detection methodologies.

Professional Email: ps@physics.utah.edu