Wenda Cao

Wenda Cao is a Professor and Director of the Center For Solar Terrestrial Research - Big Bear Solar Observatory at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Their research focuses on solar physics, including high-resolution imaging, magnetic field dynamics, and solar telescope technology. Cao has led federal grants totaling over $10 million, including projects on solar eruptions, polarimeter systems, and DKIST first science initiatives.

Key projects include MRI Track 1: Development of Wide-band High-resolution Imaging Spectro-Polarimetric Explorer (WHISPER) and Collaborative Research on solar flare structures. Their work has been featured in media outlets like Nature Astronomy and Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Advising and grants highlight ongoing collaborations with institutions like the National Science Foundation. The Center hosts advanced facilities for solar observation, including the 1.6-meter telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory.