Peter Goddard, a mathematical physicist, has been Director of the Institute for Advanced Study since January 2004. He is distinguished for his contributions in the areas of string theory and conformal field theory, as well as strong administrative leadership in academic institutions in the UK. Formerly Master of St. John's College in the University of Cambridge, England, Dr. Goddard played a key role in the establishment of the university's Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences and served as its first Deputy Director. He also led the planning and fund-raising for the University of Cambridge Centre for Mathematical Sciences, which re-housed the university's departments of mathematics and theoretical physics alongside the Isaac Newton Institute, creating one of the world's largest centers for research and teaching in the mathematical sciences. In addition to research, teaching, and administrative activities, he has played a leading role in outreach projects that encourage the aspirations of school students in educationally deprived areas.

Recognized as one of the pioneers of string theory, a favored candidate to provide a framework for the unified theory of fundamental physics, Dr. Goddard is the author of some 100 published papers. In 1997, together with David Olive, he was awarded the Dirac Prize and Medal of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, in recognition of their highly influential contributions over an extended period to string theory and quantum field theory.

University of Cambridge, Ph.D. 1971; Sc.D. 1996; Research Fellow, Trinity College, Cambridge, 1969-73; Visiting Scientist, CERN, Geneva, 1970-72; Lecturer, University of Durham, 1972-74; Institute for Advanced Study, Member, School of Natural Sciences 1974, School of Mathematics 1988, Director 2004-present; University of Cambridge, University Assistant Lecturer 1974-76, University Lecturer 1976-89, Reader 1989-92, Professor 1992-2004, Deputy Director, Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences 1991-94; St. John's College, Cambridge, Fellow, 1975-94, 2004-; Lecturer 1975-91; Tutor, 1980-87; Senior Tutor, 1983-87, Master, 1994-2004; Fellow, Royal Society of London, 1989-; London Mathematical Society, Member 1989-, President 2002-03; Fellow, Institute of Physics; 1990-; Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, 1998-; Honorary Fellow, Trinity College, Dublin, 1995-; Dirac Prize and Medal of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, 1997; Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 2002.