Tyler D. Groff
Spectroscopy & Polarimetry Product Lead/Systems, RST Coronagraph Instrument (CGI), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Education
- Ph.D. (2012) • Mechanical & Aerospace • Princeton University
- M.A. (2003) • Mechanical & Aerospace • Princeton University
- B.S. (2001) • Mechanical Engineering & Astrophysics • Tufts University
Current Position
- Optical Verification Lead, Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (RST) Wide Field Instrument (WFI)
- Spectroscopy & Polarimetry Product Lead/Systems, RST Coronagraph Instrument (CGI), NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
- Lead for exoplanet spectroscopy and parabolic deformable mirror technologies for Exo-Earth characterization on the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).
Top image: ferrofluid deformable mirror prototype built during the fellowship.
Bottom image: CHARIS integral field spectrograph observing exoplanets at Subaru Telescope.
Technology Interests
- Wavefront Sensing and Control
- Deformable Mirrors
- Integral field spectroscopy
- Photon-counting detectors
- Ultrastable structures
- With applications for:
- Large space telescopes
- Ground-based exoplanet spectroscopy
- High contrast imaging coronagraphy
- Wide Field Imaging and Spectroscopy
Goals and Aspirations
- Establish observatory architecture for the next generation of flagship astrophysics science
- Maintain a portfolio of exoplanet instrumentation spanning R&D, Implementation, and Active Operations
- Develop innovative technologies to discover, characterize, and search for life on ExoEarths.
- Mentor students and early career instrumentalists