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About

Aline Souza is an instrumental figure in the development of next-generation astronomical instrumentation, with her work centered on the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). Her primary research focus is the design and implementation of advanced spectrographs and robotic positioning systems that will define the GMT’s first-light capabilities. Souza’s most significant contribution is her leadership on the MANIFEST pre-concept design, a revolutionary multi-object fibre positioner that employs ‘Starbug’ robots to precisely position fibre units across the telescope’s focal plane. This system, when coupled with instruments like GMACS and GCLEF, will dramatically expand the telescope’s field of view and multiplexing power. Her subsequent work has documented the development of the GMT’s entire first-generation instrument suite, which includes four cutting-edge visible and infrared spectrographs capable of delivering everything from wide-band imaging to ultra-high-resolution spectroscopy (R~200,000). While her papers are recent (2020–2024), they are foundational to the GMT project, accumulating citations that underscore their critical role in shaping the telescope’s scientific capabilities. Souza’s contributions are pivotal in ensuring the GMT will be a premier observatory for decades to come.