معرفی
Erika Hamden is an Associate Professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona and serves as Assistant Astronomer at Steward Observatory. She is also the Director of the University of Arizona Space Institute (2023–Present). Her research focuses on UV instrumentation, detector technology development, galaxy evolution, and star formation.
- PhD in Astronomy (2014), Columbia University
- B.A. in Astronomy & Astrophysics (2006), Harvard University
Research Highlights: Dr. Hamden leads the Hyperion mission concept (Explorer-class space telescope) and serves as Deputy PI for NASA's Aspera SmallSat mission. Her work involves testing UV-optimized detectors (EMCCDs, Skipper CCDs) for space applications and studying galactic outflows/inflows through observational surveys.
Scientific Contributions: She developed anti-reflection coatings for delta-doped CCDs at JPL, achieving >50% UV efficiency. Her lab (Hamden UV/VIS Detector Lab) focuses on low-noise silicon detectors. She founded the PI Launchpad workshop to train future mission PIs.
- Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship
- PECASE Award (2019)
- NASA PIONEERS Mission Funding
Dr. Hamden’s career spans postdoctoral roles at Caltech (2014–2018) and faculty positions at the University of Arizona (2018–Present). She collaborates closely with NASA, JPL, and Ball Aerospace, and advocates for accessible science communication via social media collaborations with Amazon, CBS, and HowStuffWorks.
