Jedidah Isler

Jedidah Isler is an American astrophysicist. She was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1982. She was the first African American woman to earn a PhD in astrophysics from Yale University. She studies blazars, which are supermassive black holes that shoot out powerful jets of energy.

Early Life

Isler was fascinated by the night sky from a young age. She studied physics at Norfolk State University. She went on to earn a master's degree from Fisk University and a PhD from Yale University. She faced challenges as one of very few Black women in her field.

Studying Blazars

Blazars are among the most energetic objects in the universe. They are supermassive black holes that shoot jets of material at nearly the speed of light. Isler studies what these jets are made of and how fast they move. She also works to increase diversity in STEM fields and has given a popular TED talk about her journey.

Fun Facts

• Jedidah Isler was the first African American woman to earn a PhD in astrophysics from Yale.
• She studies blazars, which shoot out jets of energy at nearly the speed of light.
• Her TED talk has been viewed over one million times.

Did You Know?

Jedidah Isler created an online community called Vanguard: Conversations with Women of Color in STEM. It helps women of color in science connect and support each other.