James H. Buckley has been named the Charles M. Hohenberg Professor of Experimental Physics in recognition of his distinguished achievements in research, teaching and service.
A professor of physics and a fellow of the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences (MCSS) at Washington University in St. Louis, Buckley studies gamma-ray astronomy, cosmic rays and dark matter. He has played leadership roles in several major international collaborations, including VERITAS, the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System; ADMX, the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment; and ADAPT, the Antarctic Demonstrator for the Advanced Particle-astrophysics Telescope.
The appointment was announced by Feng Sheng Hu, dean of Arts & Sciences. The installment ceremony is scheduled for Spring 2027.
In addition to his scientific leadership, Buckley is known for his mentorship of students and junior scientists and for his service to the Department of Physics and the broader scientific community.
The professorship was established in 1991 by Alice Hohenberg and her son, Professor Emeritus Charles Hohenberg, to honor the memory of Charles M. Hohenberg Sr., a businessman and philanthropist. The professorship honors excellence in experimental physics and has previously been held by Stuart Solin, the inaugural recipient in 2003, and Kater Murch, who was appointed in 2023.
Buckley’s appointment continues the tradition of honoring physicists whose work and leadership have made lasting contributions to WashU and to the advancement of science.
