Randa Asad

Dr. Randa Asad serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah (AUS) since 2021, specializing in astrophysical research on galaxy evolution through star cluster analysis. Her work integrates observational astronomy with advanced computational techniques to decode chemical enrichment histories across cosmic time.

Education background:

• PhD in Physics, University of Cincinnati, United States (2012)
• MS in Physics, University of Cincinnati, United States (2008)
• BS in Physics, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan (2005)

Her research program centers on spectroscopic analysis of star clusters to reconstruct galactic chemical evolution, employing full-spectrum fitting methodologies and machine learning algorithms. She has developed the ASAD (Analyzer of Spectra for Age Determination) framework and secured observing time at premier facilities including VLT, Gemini, and SOAR telescopes. International collaborations include visiting researcher appointments at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Space Telescope Science Institute, and ESO headquarters.

Publication trends reveal sustained focus on stellar population analysis since 2014, with recent works (2022-2024) emphasizing machine learning applications for abundance measurements in clusters like NGC 1856. Earlier research established foundational methodologies for age determination through integrated light spectroscopy, consistently targeting the Large Magellanic Cloud as a key laboratory for galaxy evolution studies.

Scientific recognition:

• CAS Excellence in Research Award, AUS (April 2022)

Dr. Asad has secured significant observational resources at major telescopes worldwide while maintaining active membership in the International Astronomical Union (since 2016). Her research group conducts observational campaigns to unravel stellar population complexities through spectral analysis, contributing to international efforts in galactic archaeology. The Star Clusters Research Group she leads bridges theoretical modeling with empirical data to decode star formation histories across diverse galactic environments.