Meet: Tom Roellig

What I do (asked in 1996)
As an observational infrared astronomer, I head up a small group that develops state-of-the-art infrared astronomical instrumentation and then uses these instruments on ground-based, airborne, and space telescopes. The scientific questions we address range from solar system studies, including observations of the sun, right on out to observations of quasars.

How I got to where I am today
I have an education up through a Ph.D in physics. I have worked here at NASA Ames ever since I got my Ph.D, 13 years ago. While in high school and as an undergraduate student I worked summers and part time as a state park ranger, an oceanographer, in forestry research, and in high energy and nuclear physics.

What motivated me
I just followed the things I found the most interesting. The high level of education was necessary to be able to conduct my own research.

Goals for next year
The primary task for next year will be to develop a data analysis center here at NASA Ames to handle the data we are expecting from one of our space instruments. This instrument is an infrared spectrometer that was developed by our group here at Ames and is one of a complement of four instruments on a space telescope that will be launched by a Japanese rocket in February 1995.

Personal tidbits
I am married and have a one year old boy. Before his birth my hobbies included hiking, swimming, running, biking, and reading. Now I don't seem to have the time for much of any of these.