Fred Adams is a professor of physics at the University of Michigan. His work is in the general area of theoretical astrophysics with a focus on the study of star formation and cosmology.

Adams is internationally recognized for his work on the radiative signature of the star formation process, the dynamics of circumstellar disks, and the theory of the initial mass function for forming stars. His recent work includes star formation in clusters, studies of extra-solar planetary systems, and the environmental effects of clusters on planet formation. In cosmology, he has studied aspects of the inflationary universe, cosmological phase transitions, magnetic monopoles, cosmic rays, the cosmic background radiation, galactic halos of dark matter, and the long-term future of the universe.