Slavko Mali

About

Slavko Mali is a leading astronomical instrumentation engineer whose work is shaping the future of wide-field, multi-object spectroscopy. His primary research focuses on the design and deployment of robotic fibre-positioning systems for major telescopes, enabling large-scale surveys in Galactic Archaeology and galaxy evolution. Mali was instrumental in the development of HERMES, the High Efficiency and Resolution Multi-Element Spectrograph for the Anglo-Australian Telescope, a facility-class instrument that achieved first light in 2015 and has since become a cornerstone for studying the chemical history of the Milky Way (93 citations). He is also the driving force behind the MANIFEST fibre-positioning system for the Giant Magellan Telescope, which employs innovative ‘Starbug’ robots to position hundreds of fibres across the telescope’s focal plane. His work on the TAIPAN instrument, a prototype for MANIFEST, demonstrates his commitment to advancing survey capabilities. Through these contributions, Mali is enabling unprecedented multiplex gains and field-of-view access, directly impacting our understanding of galaxy formation and stellar populations.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   First light results from the High Efficiency and Resolution Multi-Element Spectrograph at the Anglo-Australian Telescope

   93 citations · 2015
2. 2
   The MANIFEST prototyping design study

   12 citations · 2016
3. 3
   TAIPAN instrument fibre positioner and Starbug robots: engineering overview

   11 citations · 2016
4. 4
   First light results from the Hermes spectrograph at the AAT

   9 citations · 2014
5. 5
   Wide-field multi-object spectroscopy with MANIFEST

   5 citations · 2018
6. 6
   The MANIFEST pre-concept design

   3 citations · 2020

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links