Rolf Jansen

Rolf Jansen is a Research Scientist at the School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University. His work focuses on galaxy formation and evolution using ground- and space-based observations, including contributions to major projects like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Groningen (Netherlands, 2000) and has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students on topics ranging from galaxy structure to telescope instrumentation.

His research emphasizes ultraviolet-to-infrared photometry and spectroscopy of nearby galaxies to trace their formation histories and assembly processes. He has been instrumental in selecting and optimizing survey fields for JWST, such as the North Ecliptic Pole Time-Domain Field, and collaborates on projects like PEARLS (Probing Early Reionization and Lensing Surveys) and SKYSURF (Sky Surface Brightness) to study extragalactic background light and galaxy evolution.

Jansen’s recent work includes discoveries of high-redshift galaxies, transient phenomena, and AGN activity using JWST and HST. He has secured grants totaling millions for projects like TREASUREHUNT (Hubble Treasury Imaging) and SKYSURF. His awards include the Smithsonian Pre-doctoral Fellowship (twice).

He teaches advanced courses in astrophysics and mentors students in observational astronomy. His lab contributes to the Cosmology Initiative, advancing understanding of galaxy and cosmic evolution through multi-wavelength surveys and instrument development.