Dr. Daniel Jaffe

Biography

Daniel Jaffe is the Vice President for Research and a Jane Roland Blumberg Professor in the Department of Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin. He received his BA and PhD from Harvard University and has held positions such as Enrico Fermi Fellow at the University of Chicago and Assistant Research Scientist at UC Berkeley before joining the UT faculty in 1986. Jaffe's research includes device development and instrumentation, focusing on observations that aim to understand how stars and planetary systems form and evolve. His team constructs silicon diffractive optics using precision lithography, currently developing instruments for NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope. Jaffe’s astronomical research employs high-resolution infrared spectroscopy to investigate the properties of protostars and disks where planets are forming. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the development of instruments like the IGRINS spectrograph at McDonald Observatory and is involved in designing instruments for the Giant Magellan Telescope. His research studies cover areas such as star formation, protoplanetary disks, and the interstellar medium, including projects like the Spitzer Legacy Project and studies of low-mass young brown dwarfs. Jaffe has received several awards, including the Bart J. Bok Prize and a Humboldt Fellowship.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards