Dr. Rubén Sánchez-Janssen will become the new director of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING). He follows in the footsteps of Dr. Marc Balcells, who had been the director since 2009. The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes is a collaboration between NWO, STFC, and IAC.
Dr. Sánchez-Janssen is an astronomer and project scientist at STFCs UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC), where he leads the development of scientific instruments for ground-based and space telescopes, ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared. He specializes in the evolution of galaxies, particularly low-mass galaxies and star clusters in the nearby universe. He is the project and instrument scientist for MOSAIC, the multi-object spectrograph of the ELT. He is also the Principal Investigator for the UKs ELT instrumentation program focused on HARMONI, METIS, ANDES, MOSAIC, and PCS. Additionally, he contributes to the development of ELT as the coordinator of the Sky Subtraction ELT Working Group. He is part of the steering committees and scientific teams for the Widefield Spectroscopic Telescope and VLT-CUBES and is a member of the WEAVE Science Team.
Dr. Sánchez-Janssen has extensive observational experience, including his time as an ESO Fellow and VLT Support Astronomer. He previously coordinated the Horizon 2020 OPTICON Technology & Innovation Network, promoting collaboration in optical astronomy and technology development across Europe.
Dr. Rubén Sánchez-Janssen, the new director of ING, said: I am thrilled to work at ING and look forward to collaborating with the talented team and the scientific communities in the three partner countries. Building on Dr. Balcells vision, we will continue to ensure the observatory plays a leading role in spectroscopic surveys. I am very excited about the scientific discoveries ahead.
Professor Boris Gänsicke, chair of the ING Board, said: I am delighted with the appointment of Dr. Rubén Sánchez-Janssen as the new director. Rubén has an excellent track record in leading the development of astronomical instruments for both ground and space. With the arrival of the new multi-object spectrograph WEAVE and the high-resolution spectrograph HARPS-3, ING will once again take a leading role in astronomy. The ING Board and I look forward to working with Rubén and all the staff at ING in this exciting new era.
Rubén Sánchez-Janssen will follow in the footsteps of former ING director Dr. Marc Balcells, who has begun a well-deserved retirement after fifteen years. Dr. Balcells, who remains involved in WEAVEs scientific programs, said: I am very pleased with the appointment of Rubén Sánchez-Janssen as the new director of ING. His extensive experience with large, international instrumentation programs and his familiarity with the astronomy communities in the UK, Netherlands, and Spain provide a fantastic foundation for the future exploitation of the new instruments of the ING telescopes.
Dr. Don Carlos Abrams is currently acting director of ING until Ruben Sánchez-Janssen starts in May.