Randall McEntaffer

Randall McEntaffer is the Department Head and Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Physics at The Pennsylvania State University's Eberly College of Science. He specializes in designing, fabricating, and implementing diffraction gratings for high-resolution astrophysical observations, focusing on UV/X-ray wavelengths using nanofabrication techniques. His research addresses supernova remnants and their environmental interactions, supported by missions like Lynx, Arcus, and suborbital rockets such as OGRE and tREXS.

Education: PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Colorado, Boulder (2007); BS/BS in Physics/Astronomy from the University of Iowa (2000).

Research interests include diffraction grating technology, X-ray spectroscopy, and space instrumentation. His group develops cutting-edge gratings for missions studying hot baryon cycles and exoplanet environments. Current missions involve leadership roles in Lynx's Grating Spectrograph and OGRE rocket payloads.

Publications focus on grating fabrication, mission technologies, and spectral analysis. He leads the McEntaffer Group, emphasizing diversity in engineering and collaboration with NASA and international partners.