Roberto Abraham
Roberto Abraham | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 12, 1965 |
| Occupation(s) | Astronomer, Professor |
| Known for | Use of non-parametric statistics in galaxy morphology classification, co-leader of Gemini Deep Deep Survey, co-principal investigator for Dragonfly Telephoto Array |
| Awards | Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2015), Outstanding Teaching Award (University of Toronto, 2005), P.G. Martin Award (Canadian Astronomical Society, 2011), Canada Council Killam Research Fellowship (2017) |
Roberto Abraham, FRSC (born April 12, 1965), is a Canadian astronomer who holds a professorship in Astronomy at the University of Toronto and is distinguished as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
Education
Abraham obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia in 1987. He later completed his doctoral studies at Oxford University in 1992 under the mentorship of Ian M. McHardy and Roger Davies.
Following his PhD, he undertook postdoctoral research at several institutions, including the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, and the Royal Greenwich Observatory.
Career
Abraham is noted for pioneering the use of non-parametric statistics in classifying galaxy morphologies, especially concerning those at significant redshift. He made early contributions to research related to the Hubble Deep Field. As a co-leader of the "Gemini Deep Deep Survey," he helped deliver important findings about primordial galaxies, focusing on elliptical galaxy development and their surprisingly mature characteristics.
Presently, he serves as co-principal investigator for the Dragonfly Telephoto Array, a telescope designed to capture images of ultra-low surface brightness galaxies within the visible spectrum.
From 2016 to 2018, Abraham held the presidency of the Canadian Astronomical Society. His involvement in the astronomical field extends to membership on the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee and holding the position of Honorary President at the Toronto Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
Awards and recognition
- 2005 – Outstanding Teaching Award from University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science
- 2011 – P.G. Martin Award by the Canadian Astronomical Society
- 2015 – Inducted as Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
- 2017 – Recipient of Canada Council Killam Research Fellowship