Biography

Douglas C. B. Whittet

Professor, Department of Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy
Director, New York Center for Astrobiology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York 12180

Education

• 1975 – Ph.D. (Astronomy), University of St Andrews
• 1971 – M.Sc. (Radio Astronomy), University of Manchester
• 1970 – B.Sc. Hons. (Physics), University of St Andrews

Professional Career

• Since 1994 – Professor of Physics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 1991/94 – Associate Professor of Physics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 1980/90 – Senior Lecturer and Professor of Astronomy, University of Central Lancashire
• 1978/80 – Post-doctoral Research Associate, University College, London
• 1975/77 – Post-doctoral Research Associate, University of St Andrews

Visiting Positions

• 2005/06 – Visiting Professor, Center for Imaging Science, Rochester Institute of Technology
• 1989/92 – Visiting Astronomer, Space Research Organization of the Netherlands and Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen
• 1988/89 – Visiting Professor, Physics Department, York University, Toronto, and Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto

Professional Activities and Awards

• Co-organizer, NASA Astrobiology Institute “Workshop Without Walls: The Organic Continuum from the Interstellar Medium to the Early Solar System” (2010)
• Director, New York Center for Astrobiology (since 2008)
• Principal Investigator, NASA Astrobiology Institute (since 2008)
• Institutional Representative, Universities Space Research Association (since 2008)
• Principal Investigator, NASA Exobiology & Evolutionary Biology Research Program (since 1998)
• Principal Investigator, Spitzer Space Telescope Observational and Archival Research Programs (2004/11)
• Member, Scientific Organizing Committee, Symposium “Astronomical Polarimetry 2008” (2006/08)
• Member, Scientific Organizing Committee, Symposium “The Astrophysics of Dust” (2002/03)
• Rensselaer Alumni Association Teacher of the Year (2002)
• Associate Director, New York Center for Studies of the Origins of Life (1998/2006)
• Member of Editorial Board, Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere (since 1997)
• Guest Investigator, European Space Agency, Infrared Space Observatory Guaranteed Time (1990/97)
• Principal Investigator, NASA Long-Term Space Astrophysics Program (1992/97)
• Chair, Scientific Organizing Committee, Symposium “Polarimetry of the Interstellar Medium” (1995)

Professional Affiliations

• Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
• Member of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life
• Member of the International Astronomical Union
• Member of the Astrobiology Society
• Member of the American Astronomical Society
• Member of the American Institute of Physics

Publications

• Book: Dust in the Galactic Environment (2nd Ed.) Institute of Physics Graduate Series in Astronomy.
• Book edited: Planetary and Interstellar Processes Relevant to the Origins of Life, Kluwer.
• Conference proceedings edited: Polarimetry of the Interstellar Medium, (with W. Roberge), Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
• Over 180 research papers in refereed journals.
• Over 20 invited review papers.
• Over 70 contributed conference papers.