Year born: ~1975
Research Areas: Stellar explosions, Gamma-Ray Bursts, Black holes, Neutron stars, Gravitational Waves
"Physicists are taught to be very sceptical about everything. We always embrace doubt. It’s the pleasure of not knowing that drives us, drives the curiosity forward."
Early Life
Enrico Ramirez Ruiz was born and raised in Mexico City. His parents were chemists who worked for the local university. From a young age, he wanted to answer the big questions, such as how the Universe was made. This led him to want to study physics. He earned his first degree in physics in Mexico. He then moved to Cambridge, UK, to study astrophysics for his PhD.
Career highlights
Now, Enrico is a professor of astrophysics at the University of California. He holds a special title there, known as the Vera Rubin Presidential Chair. This is one of the most respected roles in the university. Ruiz also teaches and works as a professor at the University of Copenhagen. His research is on some of the highest-energy events in space. Things like what happens when stars explode, how black holes eat up matter, or neutron stars crash into each other. These events are so huge that they create large amounts of energy, light and even gravitational waves! Because we can't test these things in a lab, Enrico uses computer simulations to study them. His work has helped to explain how some of the heaviest elements in the Universe (such as silver, tin and gold) are formed. During his career so far, he has won many awards and, in June 2025, was named president of the board of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
Legacy
Enrico isn't just a scientist; he is also a mentor and a teacher who cares deeply about helping young people succeed. In 2009, he created the Lamat Institute at his university. This program is designed to help students who want to study science but may not have had the same opportunities as others. For his work in helping students, he received a Presidential Award. This is one of the highest honours in the USA for someone working in improving STEM education.
Other interests
Even though he spends most of his time thinking about black holes and the death of stars, Enrico also finds inspiration in art and stories. He is a big fan of Jorge Luis Borges, an Argentine writer. Jorge's wild stories of chance, dreams, infinite libraries and other worlds helped Enrico think differently about time and space.