The NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre (NRC Herzberg, HAA) is the leading Canadian centre for astronomy and astrophysics. It is based in Victoria, British Columbia. The current director-general, as of 2021, is Luc Simard.

History Named for the Nobel laureate Gerhard Herzberg, it was formed in 1975 as part of the National Research Council of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. The NRC-HIA headquarters were moved to Victoria, British Columbia in 1995 to the site of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. In 2012, the organization was restructured and renamed NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Facilities NRC-HAA also operates the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory outside of Penticton, British Columbia and the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre as well as managing Canadian involvement in the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Gemini Observatory, Atacama Large Millimeter Array, the Square Kilometre Array, and the Thirty Meter Telescope, as well as Canada's national astronomy data centre.

The institute is also involved in the development and construction of instruments and telescopes. Members of NRC-HAA are currently involved in The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. Members of NRC-HAA are currently involved with Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey.

Plaskett Fellowship The Plaskett Fellowship is named after John Stanley Plaskett and is awarded to an outstanding, recent doctoral graduate in astrophysics or a closely related discipline. Fellows conduct independent research in a stimulating, collegial environment at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Expertise in observational astrophysics is the norm, but some theoreticians were also among this distinguished group of astronomers.

+ Past Plaskett Fellows Name Dates Current Position Brown, Toby 2021–2024 Astronomer, NRC-HAA Marshall, Madeline 2020–2024 Oppenheimer Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow, Los Alamos Woods, Tyrone 2019–2023 Assistant Professor, University of Manitoba Hénault-Brunet, Vincent 2017–2019 Assistant Professor, Saint Mary's University Ngo, Henry 2017–2019 Data and Analytics Lead, Office of the Provincial Health Officer, BC Ministry of Health Lawler, Samantha 2014–2019 Assistant Professor, University of Regina McConnell, Nick 2014–2016 STEM Workforce Development and Education Manager, ISEE Roediger, Joel 2013–2016 Astronomer, NRC-HAA Kirk, Helen 2012–2015 Astronomer, NRC-HAA Fraser, Wesley 2011–2014 Astronomer, NRC-HAA Mann, Rita 2010–2015 Astronomer, Victoria Schnee, Scott 2009–2010 System Director, The Aerospace Corporation McConnachie, Alan 2008–2011 Instrumentation Astronomer, NRC-HAA Peng, Chien-Yi 2007–2010 Scientific Programmer, Giant Magellan Telescope Geha, Marla 2006–2007 Professor, Astronomy, Yale University Puzia, Thomas H. 2006–2010 Associate Professor, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Onken, Chris 2005–2008 Research Fellow, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Australian National University Peng, Eric 2004–2007 Faculty Research Fellow, Department of Astronomy, Peking University Matthews, Brenda 2004–2008 Astronomer, Millimetre Astronomy Group, NRC-HAA Fiege, Jason 2002–2004 Associate Professor, Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba Willott, Christopher 2002–2006 Astronomer, Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, NRC-HAA Johnson, Jennifer 2002–2005 Professor, Department of Astronomy, Ohio State University Sawicki, Marcin 2001–2004 Chair of Astronomy & Physics, Astronomy and Physics, St Mary's University Barton, Elizabeth 1999–2001 Founder & CEO at Infiniscape Incorporated van Zee, Liese 1999–2001 Professor, Astronomy, University of Indiana Fulbright, Jon 1999–2002 GOES-R Product Readiness and Operations (PRO) Deputy and Product Quality Lead, Arctic Slope Technical Services Côté, Stéphanie 1997–1999 Group Leader, Canadian Gemini Office NRC-HAA Lavezzi, Tracey Ellen 1997–1999 Los Alamos National Laboratory Courteau, Stéphane 1996–1999 Professor, Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Queen's University Côté, Patrick 1994–1997 Principal Research Officer, NRC-HAA Marzke, Ronald 1994–1997 Associate Dean of College of Science & Engineering, San Francisco State University Smecker-Hane, Tammy 1992–1995 Associate Professor, Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine Garnavich, Peter 1991–1994 Professor, Astrophysics / Cosmology Physics, Notre Dame University Riegler, Michael 1991–1993 Program Manager, Word Business Unit, Microsoft Corporation Abraham, Roberto 1991–1994 Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toronto Ellingson, Erica 1989–1992 Associate Professor, Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder Friel, Eileen 1988–1990 Professor Emerita, University of Indiana Pierce, Michael 1988–1991 Professor, University of Wyoming Bolte, Michael 1987–1990 Professor, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Lick Observatory Welch, Douglas 1986–1988 Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, McMaster University Ratnatunga, Kavan 1986–1988 Senior Research Scientist, Carnegie-Mellon University Westpfahl, David 1986–1988 Professor, Department of Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Crabtree, Dennis 1986–1988 Astronomer, NRC-HAA Durand, Daniel 1986–1989 Retired, former Research Council Officer, NRC-HAA Smith, Graeme 1984–1986 Professor, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Lick Observatory Stauffer, John 1984–1986 Research Scientist, Spitzer Science Centre Stetson, Peter 1983–1984 Retired, former Principal Research Officer, NRC-HAA Campbell, Bruce 1983–1987 Financial consultant Olszewski, Edward 1982–1984 Astronomer, Steward Observatory Yee, Howard 1982–1984 Professor, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto Stryker, Linda 1981–1983 Emeritus Professor, Arizona State University Massey, Philip 1980–1983 Astronomer, Lowell Observatory Mochnacki, Stefan 1980–1982 Retired, professor, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto Harris, Hugh 1980–1982 Astronomer, U.S. Naval Observatory Quintana, Hernán 1979–1981 Professor, Department of Astronomy (former Chair), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Pritchet, Christopher 1978–1981 Retired, professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy (former Chair), University of Victoria Lawrie, David 1978–1980 Director, Sensing and Exploitation Department, Aerospace Corporation Poeckert, Roland 1977–1979 Unknown Rucinski, Slavek 1975–1977 Retired, formerly professor, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Associate Director, David Dunlap Observatory, University of Toronto

Covington Fellowship The Covington Fellowship is named after Arthur Covington and is awarded to an outstanding, recent doctoral graduate in astrophysics or a closely related discipline. Fellows conduct independent research in a stimulating, collegial environment at the institute at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in Penticton, BC. DRAO staff expertise is in observational radio astronomy and the development of instrumentation and technology for radio telescopes. Current and past Covington Fellows are:

+ Covington Fellows Name Dates Current Position Jennifer West 2023–present Covington Fellow, Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, NRC-HAA Mehrnoosh Tahani 2019–2022 Banting Fellow, Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Stanford University Trey Wenger 2019–2022 NSF Fellow, Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison Paul Scholz 2016–2019 Dunlap Fellow, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto Timothy Robishaw 2011–2013 Senior Research Officer, Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, NRC-HAA Maik Wolleben 2008–2011 Founder, Skaha Remote Sensing

See also Atacama Large Millimeter Array Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory Gemini Observatory James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Square Kilometre Array Thirty Meter Telescope James Webb Space Telescope

References

External links National science infrastructure (NRC Herzberg) Herzberg Astrophysics Researchers