Astronomer; Astrophysicist

Reza Ashtari

Bio

Dr. Reza Ashtari is an astronomer and astrophysicist whose work focuses on exoplanet atmospheres and magnetospheres, space-based transmission spectroscopy, ground-based radio astronomy, planetary radio science, and technosignatures. He has worked on several NASA missions and concepts, including New Horizons, Dragonfly, and Interstellar Probe.

Education

  • Ph.D., Electromagnetics

    Auburn University

  • M.S., Electromagnetics

    Auburn University

  • B.S., Electrical Engineering

    Auburn University

Mission Area

Notable Awards and Leadership

Year(s) Description
Year(s) 2022, 2023 Description PI, APL Research Grant for “Detecting Magnetospheric Radio Emissions from Giant Exoplanets” – Ground-based measurements of planetary magnetic field strength, rotational velocity, and orbital obliquity
Year(s) 2022, 2023 Description PI, APL Research Grant for “When Will We Make Contact?” – Analyzing the quantitative bounds for type 0 technosignatures and performing radio technosignature observations
Year(s) 2020 - 2021 Description PI, New Horizons Extended Missions – VLBI & Bistatic Radar Using the New Horizons Radio Science Experiment Instrument (REX)
Year(s) 2018 - 2019 Description Co-PI, APL Research Grant for “Active Noise Cancellation and Wavefront Correction Techniques for Ground-based Radio Observatories”