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About

Sharon R. Jelinsky is a key instrumentalist behind one of the most ambitious cosmological surveys ever undertaken: the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). Her research centers on the design, production, and implementation of the complex fiber-optic systems that enable DESI to capture the spectra of millions of galaxies and quasars. Jelinsky’s major contributions include leading the development of the robotic multi-object focal plane system, a marvel of engineering featuring 5,020 independently controlled fiber positioners that reconfigure every 10–20 minutes with micron-level precision. She also oversaw the design and production of the front-end fiber system, ensuring the reliable transmission of light from the telescope’s prime focus to the spectrographs. Her work is foundational to DESI’s ability to measure the expansion history of the Universe and investigate dark energy. Her most cited paper, detailing the robotic focal plane, has garnered 175 citations, while her comprehensive overview of the entire fiber system has earned 57. With a career dedicated to building the hardware that makes groundbreaking cosmology possible, Jelinsky’s engineering achievements are essential to a project that will measure over 40 million celestial objects.