Dr Rubén Sánchez-Janssen has been announced as the new Director of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) on La Palma. Dr Sánchez-Janssen is an Astronomer and Project Scientist at Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) site in Edinburgh, where he leads the development of scientific instrumentation and facilities for ground and space-based astronomy.
His work spans the ultraviolet to the near-infrared, with a particular emphasis on future missions. He specialises in galaxy evolution, with particular focus on low-mass galaxies and star cluster systems in the nearby Universe.
At UK ATC recently he has been focused on multiple instruments for the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Playing a leading role developing the ELT's multi-object spectrograph MOSAIC. He also serves as Principal Investigator for the UK's ELT instrumentation programme, which oversees the development of HARMONI, METIS, ANDES, MOSAIC, and PCS. He further extends his contributions to the ELT's development as coordinator of the Sky Subtraction ELT Working Group.
He also serves on the Steering Committees and Science Teams for the Widefield Spectroscopic Telescope and CUBES for ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) and is a member of the WEAVE Science Team.
Drawing from extensive observational experience, including his time as an ESO Fellow and VLT Support Astronomer, Dr Sánchez-Janssen previously coordinated the Horizon 2020 OPTICON Technology & Innovation Network, fostering collaboration in astronomical technology development across Europe.
The ING is owned by STFC, and is operated jointly with the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) of the Netherlands and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) of Spain. Often collaborating with UK ATC, RAL Space and other STFC staff and facilities on instruments and research.
Dr Sánchez-Janssen, the new Director of the ING, said: “I am thrilled to join the ING and look forward to working with its talented team and partner communities. Building on Dr Balcells' vision, we will continue pushing forward to establish the observatory as a leading force in spectroscopic survey astronomy. I am truly excited about the scientific discoveries ahead of us."
“I've been fortunate to spend nearly a decade at UK ATC, working alongside extraordinary colleagues who have contributed immensely to both my professional and personal growth. While I'll deeply miss the daily interactions at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, I'm hopeful that we'll continue collaborating on future projects. The dedication and brilliance of the staff have made my time here truly special, and I look forward to maintaining these valuable relationships in new ways."
Professor Grahame Blair, STFC Executive Director, Programmes, said: “I am delighted that Dr Rubén Sánchez-Janssen will be the new Director of the Isaac Newton Group. His expertise and leadership in instrumentation and astronomy combined with his strong links with STFC from his time at the UK ATC make him uniquely qualified for this role. The ING has a suite of exciting new instruments poised to extend our exploration of the cosmos into new domains and we look forward to working with him and the team on La Palma in this new era of discovery."
Dr Sánchez-Janssen will start at the ING in May. Dr Don Carlos Abrams is currently acting Director of the ING until Dr Sánchez-Janssen starts.
