Physics & astronomy postdocs receive Hubble fellowships

UC Irvine physics & astronomy postdoctoral researchers Misty Bentz and Shelley Wright have received prestigious 3-year Hubble research fellowships from the Space Telescope Science Institute (shown). Administered by NASA, the fellowships provide an opportunity for recent postdoctoral scientists to conduct independent research broadly related to the scientific goals of NASA’s Cosmic Origins missions: the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, Herschel Space Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope. This year, just 17 fellowships were awarded nationally. “This is evidence that the astrophysics program at UCI has really emerged at the national level,” said Bill Parker, department chair. Physics & astronomy faculty members James Bullock, Aaron Barth and Betsy Barton previously have received Hubble fellowships.