Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Jane R Rigby

(SENIOR PROJECT SCIENTIST FOR THE JWST)

 jane.r.rigby@nasa.gov

 301.286.1507

Org Code: 660

NASA/GSFC
Mail Code: 660
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Employer: NASA

Brief Bio


Dr. Jane Rigby is a civil servant Astrophysicist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Rigby serves as the Senior Project Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Complete CV (PDF)

Research webpage

Publications on ADS

 

 

 

Research Interests


Star-forming galaxies

Astrophysics: Galaxies

Galaxies undergo vigorous bursts of star formation that quickly build up stellar mass, and may, through violent outflows, prevent future star formation. Dr. Rigby investigates the evolution of star formation in galaxies through cosmic time, using multiwavelength spectroscopy and photometry.


Gravitational Lensing

Astrophysics: Galaxies

Rare gravitational lenses act like "nature's telescopes", magnifying the background universe by factors of up to 100x, enabling Dr. Rigby and collaborators to peer inside normal galaxies at the epoch of galaxy assembly.


Obscured Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN)

Astrophysics: Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN)

Much of the growth of supermassive black holes is hidden from us, due to large columns of obscuring gas and dust. Dr. Rigby studies these obscured active galactic nuclei, with a focus on their multiwavelength properties, and how to identify the subset that are highly obscured.


Future telescopes

Astrophysics: Technology & Missions

Rigby supports the development of future NASA mission concepts.  Rigby serves on the Science & Technology Definition Team (STDT) for NASA's mission concept of a Large UV/Optical/Infrared Telescope (LUVOIR).

 

Positions/Employment


Astrophysicist

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD

September 2010 - Present

 


Spitzer Fellow and Carnegie Fellow

The Carnegie Observatories - Pasadena, CA

September 2006 - August 2010


NSF Graduate Research Fellow

The University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ

September 2000 - June 2003

Education


Ph.D., Astronomy, March 2006, The University of Arizona
M.S., Astronomy, May 2003, The University of Arizona
B.S., Physics, May 2000, with Highest Distinction, Penn State
B.S., Astronomy and Astrophysics, May 2000, with Honors and Highest Distinction, Penn State

Awards


  • 2018 - John C. Lindsay Memorial Award for Space Science
  • 2016 - Robbert H. Goddard Award for Science to the JWST Project Science Team
  • 2015 - Peer Award, Astrophysics Science Division, NASA GSFC
  • 2014 - NASA Group Achievement Award to the NuSTAR Science Team
  • 2014 - Robert H. Goddard Award for Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity
  • 2013 - Robert H. Goddard Award for Exceptional Achievement for Science
  • 2013 - Outstanding Alumni Award, Eberly College of Science, Penn State