Gehrz appointed chair of Astronomy

Robert Gehrz

Institute of Technology Dean Steven L. Crouch has appointed Professor Robert Gehrz as chair of the Department of Astronomy effective October 30, 2006 through June 30, 2010. Gehrz has been interim chair of the department since July 1, 2005.

Gehrz has served as a professor at the University of Minnesota since 1985 and as director of the University of Minnesota Observatories since 1989. Previously, he held a faculty position at the University of Wyoming where he constructed and served as director of the Wyoming Infared Observatory.

A member of the Science Working Group for NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, Gehrz has facility scientist responsibilities for the Croygenic Telescope Assembly. Gehrz has conducted extensive research efforts in ground-based infrared astronomical observations and instrumentation development. His space infrared astronomy research has included programs conducted with the International Ultraviolet Explorer, Kuiper Airborne Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, European Space Agency’s Infrared Space Observatory, and the new Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Gehrz is the author or co-author of more than 200 research publications including research published in the October 2006 issue of the Astrophysical Journal outlining research that could give scientists clues about the origins of the sun.

Gehrz was elected a Fellow of the Explorers Club in 1979, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1995, and a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2004. He was chairman and member of the Board of the International Gemini Project from 1996 to 1999 and was President of the American Astronomical Society during 1999-2000. Gehrz is a past chair and member of the NSF/NASA Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee. He currently serves as a member of the NASA James Webb Space Telescope Product Integrity Team that reviews the optical telescope assembly.

Gehrz received his bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1967 and 1971, respectively. Gehrz grew up in St. Paul and graduated from Central High School in 1963. Gehrz and his wife Susan live in Falcon Heights where she serves as mayor. They have two adult children.