Dr. Bailyn received his Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Physics from Yale in 1981, and his Ph.D. in Astronomy from Harvard University in 1987. A Harvard Fellow from 1987 to 1990, he joined the Yale faculty in 1990 and has taught at Yale since then. In addition, he has chaired the Department of Astronomy since 1999, and in 2005, became the Thomas E. Donnelley Professor of Astronomy and Physics.

Professor Bailyn has published 105 refereed papers or invited reviews relating to high energy astrophysics and galactic astronomy, and serves on numerous peer review panels. Dr. Bailyn is well known for his ability to engage both scientific and non-scientific audiences in his courses and lectures, and he and his work were featured in the PBS mini-series "Mysteries of Deep Space."