Simon Ellis

Simon Ellis is a Professor at Macquarie University, affiliated with the Astrophysics and Space Technologies Research Centre and the MQ Photonics Research Centre. He leads the Instrument Science Group and is currently the Lead Instrument Scientist for the MAVIS imager and spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope.

• PhD in Astrophysics, University of Birmingham

His research focuses on astrophotonics and astronomical instrumentation, particularly in OH suppression, silicon photonics, and fibre Bragg gratings. He has published foundational papers and the first textbook on astrophotonics. His recent work emphasizes the development of next-generation photonic instruments for ground-based telescopes.

The most recent publications highlight advancements in tunable filters, integrated photonic devices, and adaptive optics instrumentation, reflecting a strong trend toward miniaturized, high-efficiency systems for astronomical observation. His work bridges theoretical astrophysics with practical engineering solutions.

Scientific Contributions

• Commissioning scientist for the first instruments using fibre Bragg gratings for OH suppression
• Pioneer in astrophotonics research and development
• Lead for major instrumentation projects including MAVIS

Ellis has advised and collaborated on numerous research projects, particularly in instrumentation development. He has led or co-led multiple funded research initiatives at Macquarie University, such as the MQRIS projects and LUNA, focusing on laser and photonic technologies. He has held external roles at the Australian Astronomical Observatories and honorary positions at the University of Sydney.

He is actively involved in research groups and centers focused on photonics and space technologies, contributing to national and international collaborations in astronomical instrumentation.