Susan R. Trammell

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Susan R. Trammell is an astrophysicist renowned for her pioneering work in robotic optical astronomy and the study of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Her key research areas include time-domain astrophysics, polarimetry, and the development of rapid-response telescopic systems. Trammell’s major contribution is the conception and construction of the PROMPT (Panchromatic Robotic Optical Monitoring and Polarimetry Telescopes) array, a groundbreaking facility funded by $1.2M in grants and donations. Located at CTIO, PROMPT consists of six 0.41-meter Ritchey-Chretien telescopes on rapidly slewing mounts, capable of responding to GRB alerts within seconds—capturing afterglows at their brightest. This system has enabled unprecedented multi-wavelength, real-time observations of transient cosmic events. Her most-cited paper (2005, 58 citations) and a later update (2021, 26 citations) detail this innovative design, which has become a model for robotic observatories worldwide. Trammell’s work has significantly advanced our ability to probe the early universe and extreme physics, making her a leading figure in automated astronomical instrumentation and transient science.