This profile series introduces scientists who support projects at Caltech/IPAC while carrying out their own scientific research.
In this profile, we feature Anahita Alavi, the Deputy Task Lead for the Euclid NASA Science Center at IPAC (ENSCI).
Euclid is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission with NASA participation. Its goal is to study the geometry and nature of the dark Universe. Launched on July 1, 2023, Euclid will carry out a six-year survey of a third of the sky in the optical and near-infrared. ENSCI supports US-based investigations using Euclid data. As part of the Euclid Consortium’s Science Ground Segment, ENSCI is also providing algorithm and software development, participating in data quality assurance, and performing data processing.
1. How did you become interested in science and in astronomy/astrophysics?
My earliest memory of being fascinated by the night sky goes back to when I was around 4 or 5 years old. I clearly recall holding my mom's hand as we walked outside at night, staring at the moon and wondering why it seemed to move only when I walked and stop when I stopped. In my childhood imagination, I thought the moon was following me. Naturally, I asked my mom, and she did her best to explain it to me. (Fun fact: recently, my 4.5-year-old daughter asked me the exact same question, and I was thrilled by how history repeats itself.)
Another memory that stands out is from my grandma's backyard, where we would sleep outside on warm summer nights. I would try so hard to stay awake, gazing at the stars and searching for funny shapes among them, without knowing anything about constellations. I also liked reading Jules Verne’s book From the Earth to the Moon.
However, it was during high school that I formally became interested in science, thanks to two incredible physics teachers, Mr. Mahdavian and Mr. Eshaghi. I distinctly remember the day Mr. Eshaghi was teaching the photoelectric effect⎯I was so excited, realizing then that I truly loved physics and wanted to pursue it in the future. Later, I developed an interest in astronomy through a weekly science education television series named “Asemane Shab,” meaning “The Night Sky” in Farsi. The show discussed astronomy news and featured conversations with professional and amateur astronomers on various topics, which further deepened my passion for the field.
2. What was your path to your current job at IPAC?
I completed my elementary, middle, and high school education in a small town in western Iran. In high school, I majored in math and physics, where we studied a variety of subjects including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and probability, as well as physics and chemistry. Afterward, I moved to Tehran, Iran's capital, to pursue my undergraduate studies in physics at Sharif University of Technology.
In Iran, all high school students are required to take a national exam, which determines both their field of undergraduate study and the university they can attend, based on their rank. Culturally, students with higher ranks in math and physics often choose engineering pathways, largely due to better career prospects and the perception that engineering is more prestigious. Getting highly ranked in that exam, I had the option to choose almost any field at any university, which put me under a lot of pressure from teachers and peers to follow the engineering route. However, thanks to the unwavering support of my parents, I was able to choose physics, the subject I was truly passionate about, for my undergraduate studies.
By the end of my time at Sharif University, I knew I wanted to pursue research in astronomy. I decided to apply for Ph.D. programs in the United States and chose UC Riverside after learning about their astronomy program through a talk given by Prof. Bahram Mobasher during one of his visits to Iran. At UC Riverside, I worked with Prof. Brian Siana, and my time there was among the most fulfilling periods of my life. I was able to conduct research that I truly enjoyed in an active and welcoming environment.
Following my Ph.D., I learned about IPAC from my Ph.D. advisor, and I moved here in 2017 as a postdoctoral researcher to work with Dr. Harry Teplitz.
3. Tell us briefly about your current project duties at IPAC and your personal science interests?
I am a member of the Euclid NASA Science Center at IPAC (ENSCI). After spending a few years at IPAC as a postdoc, I joined the ENSCI team in 2021 as a staff scientist, and I was recently promoted to the position of Deputy Task Lead for ENSCI. At ENSCI, I lead the photometric flux calibration for the Euclid/NISP imaging. I also assist with the flux calibration of the Euclid/NISP spectroscopy. Additionally, I am part of the user support team, which helps U.S. scientists working with Euclid data products. In summary, my responsibilities at ENSCI include developing pipelines, providing documentation and support for users, and contributing to the Euclid data product archive at the Infrared Science Archive (IRSA) based at IPAC.
This Hubble Space Telescope press release image showcases the discovery of a large population of dwarf galaxies at z=1−3 from Anahita Alavi’s Ph.D. dissertation. The image features the massive galaxy cluster Abell 1689, with background faint dwarf galaxies (seen as blue arcs) stretched and magnified by the cluster's strong gravitational lensing effect. Over the past decade, Anahita Alavi has been studying these high-redshift dwarf galaxies to understand their formation and evolution over time. Recently, she was the principal investigator on a successful JWST proposal to study the star formation history in these dwarf galaxies. Image credit: NASA, ESA and B. Siana and A. Alavi (University of California, Riverside).
This Hubble Space Telescope press release image showcases the discovery of a large population of dwarf galaxies at z=1−3 from Anahita Alavi’s Ph.D. dissertation. The image features the massive galaxy cluster Abell 1689, with background faint dwarf galaxies (seen as blue arcs) stretched and magnified by the cluster's strong gravitational lensing effect. Over the past decade, Anahita Alavi has been studying these high-redshift dwarf galaxies to understand their formation and evolution over time. Recently, she was the principal investigator on a successful JWST proposal to study the star formation history in these dwarf galaxies. Image credit: NASA, ESA and B. Siana and A. Alavi (University of California, Riverside).
Regarding my personal scientific interests, I study galaxy evolution at high redshifts, with a particular focus on dwarf galaxies. These faint, low-mass galaxies are not simply smaller versions of larger galaxies; they are fundamentally different. My fascination with these galaxies began during my Ph.D., where I used the images obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope of several massive galaxy clusters to study faint background galaxies that were gravitationally lensed. Through lensing magnification, we were able to observe small systems, similar to our neighboring Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, but at much higher redshifts (z=1−3). Since then, I have used a variety of telescopes and instruments, including Hubble Space Telescope, Keck, and JWST to investigate the physical properties of these dwarf galaxies. I am also interested in studying the Reionization era, a pivotal period when the universe transitioned from being neutral to ionized.
4. What is the best part of working at IPAC and why?
From a scientific perspective, IPAC is a dynamic and vibrant place where people work on a wide range of astronomy topics. IPAC hosts scientists from various missions, and there is always an opportunity to learn about these projects⎯sometimes even joining their teams if you are interested. Before joining IPAC, I had no experience working on a mission. It is a unique and exciting opportunity to be part of a team working together on a mission like Euclid, and to witness the first images that no one else has seen before, despite the accompanying stress.
In addition to science, one of the best aspects of working at IPAC is the flexibility it offers. As a working mom of two kids, this flexibility is a top priority for me, allowing me to balance my job and family life. Another aspect I truly appreciate about IPAC is the people. Working in a supportive and friendly environment is incredibly important to me, and IPAC excels in fostering that atmosphere. We also do not have any mandatory teaching duties at IPAC, which reduces the stress level and allows us to spend our time on functional duties and on our own science.
5. Have you had any unusual/funny things happen to you on your way to becoming an IPAC scientist (including your education years)?
One funny memory is from when I was applying for a postdoc position. In one of the emails, my automatic grammar software changed "Dear#" to "Dead#," and I didn't notice it before sending it! The employer was kind enough to reply with, "Not dead yet..." followed by a smiley face.
6. What do you like to do outside of working hours?
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, especially my kids. I enjoy playing with them, especially board games, taking them to the playground or museums, and, of course, reading plenty of bedtime stories each night. I also volunteer at schools where I talk to students about a range of topics from science and astronomy to my Iranian cultural celebrations, including new year celebrations that take place at a different time of the year in Iran. I like to bring in samples of Iranian cooking to the class and explain what is the symbolic meaning of these foods. Besides that, I also enjoy watching fictional and drama movies and visiting bookstores and coffee shops.
7. Do you have any advice to give to anyone who dreams about becoming an astronomer, and specifically, working at IPAC one day?
My main advice is to approach your career choices with an open mind. Not all astronomy jobs lead to becoming a faculty member⎯there are many different career pathways within astronomy. Unfortunately, this is not something we are always exposed to in graduate school, so many students do not have a broad understanding of the available options.
I have often been asked what it is like to work at IPAC, and I always encourage people to visit⎯either by giving a talk or simply by stopping by to chat with the staff. I always explain how exciting it is to work at IPAC where you can be at the forefront of many current and/or future space missions.
