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Astronomer; Astrophysicist
  • PhD, Electromagnetics
    2016, Auburn University
  • MS, Electromagnetics
    2014, Auburn University
  • BS, Electrical Engineering
    2012, Auburn University

Reza is an astronomer & astrophysicist at the Johns Hopkins Laboratory Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU-APL). He received his PhD in Electromagnetics from Auburn University in 2016 and is currently Senior Professional Staff within the Space Exploration Sector at JHU-APL. His work focuses on exoplanet atmospheres and magnetospheres, space-based transmission spectroscopy, ground-based radio astronomy, planetary radio science, and technosignatures. Reza has served several NASA missions and concepts including New Horizons, Dragonfly and Interstellar Probe.

Notable Awards and Leadership

Year(s) Description
2022, 2023 PI – JHU/APL Research Grant – "Detecting Magnetospheric Radio Emissions from Giant Exoplanets" – Ground based measurements of planetary magnetic field strength, rotational velocity, and orbital obliquity
2022, 2023 PI – JHU/APL Research Grant – "When Will We Make Contact?" – Analyzing the quantitative bounds for type 0 technosignatures and performing radio technosignature observations
2020-2021 PI – New Horizons Extended Missions – VLBI & Bistatic Radar using the New Horizons Radio Science Experiment Instrument (REX)
2018-2019 Co-PI – JHU/APL Research Grant PI – Active Noise Cancellation and Wavefront Correction Techniques for Ground-based Radio Observatories

Scholarly Publications

Detecting Technosignatures from Earth-scale Civilizations

The Astrophysical Journal, 2023
Reza Ashtari, (2023), Detecting Technosignatures from Earth-scale Civilizations, The Astrophysical Journal

Interstellar Probe: Telecommunications Design Trades

2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2022
, (2022), Interstellar Probe: Telecommunications Design Trades, 2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference

Detecting Auroral Radio Emission from Exoplanets

AAS - Exoplanets IV, 2022
, (2022), Detecting Auroral Radio Emission from Exoplanets, AAS - Exoplanets IV

Detecting Magnetospheric Radio Emission from Giant Exoplanets

The Astrophysical Journal, 2022
Reza Ashtari, Anthony Sciola, Jake D. Turner, Kevin Stevenson

Interstellar Communications

2021 IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2021
, (2021), Interstellar Communications, 2021 IEEE Aerospace Conference

Using Existing Spacecraft towards Long Baselines in VLBI

2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2020
, (2020), Using Existing Spacecraft towards Long Baselines in VLBI, 2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference

Low-Frequency Magnetic Shielding

2019 IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Signal \& Power Integrity (EMC+ SIPI), 2019
, (2019), Low-Frequency Magnetic Shielding, 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Signal \& Power Integrity (EMC+ SIPI)

Using New Horizons towards Long Baselines in VLBI

Lunar and Planetary Institute - Pluto System After New Horizons, 2019
, (2019), Using New Horizons towards Long Baselines in VLBI, Lunar and Planetary Institute - Pluto System After New Horizons

A 2.45-GHz frequency-selective rectenna for wireless energy harvesting

Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 2016
, (2016), A 2.45-GHz frequency-selective rectenna for wireless energy harvesting, Microwave and Optical Technology Letters

A 2.45-GHz frequency-selective rectenna for wireless energy harvesting

2016

A Dual-Band Metamaterial Antenna

2014

A low-cost NLOS ultra-violet V2I identification system for vehicular theft recovery

2013 International Conference on Connected Vehicles and Expo (ICCVE), 2013
, (2013), A low-cost NLOS ultra-violet V2I identification system for vehicular theft recovery, 2013 International Conference on Connected Vehicles and Expo (ICCVE)