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About

Ian Soukup is a leading engineer and researcher specializing in high-precision electromechanical systems for astronomical instrumentation. His work is central to the development of advanced telescope control systems and fiber optic positioning technologies, particularly for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX). Soukup’s major contributions include the design and implementation of the HETDEX tracker control system, an 18,000 kg robot capable of positioning a 3,100 kg payload within 10 microns of a dynamic track—a feat of precision engineering that enables critical dark energy research. He also led the design of the fiber optic support system and accelerated life tests for VIRUS, ensuring the reliability of over 33,600 optical fibers. His work on multi-axis, high-precision drive systems for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Wide Field Upgrade further demonstrates his expertise in large-scale robotic motion. With over 20 citations across his most influential papers, Soukup’s innovations have directly enabled one of the most ambitious spectroscopic surveys in astronomy, making him a key figure in the intersection of mechanical engineering and observational cosmology.