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About

Miriam Colling is an instrumental figure in the development of next-generation astronomical instrumentation, with her primary research focus on the design, build, and integration of complex multi-object spectrographs for large ground-based telescopes. Her most significant contribution is her leading role on the MOONS (Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph) project for the ESO Very Large Telescope. Colling has been central to the instrument’s assembly and integration, notably authoring the key overview paper detailing the instrument’s status and the dedicated build paper for the critical fibre positioning module (FPM). This FPM, which precisely configures 1000 optical fibres using individual robotic positioners, is the mechanical heart of MOONS, enabling its high multiplexing capability. Her work directly facilitates groundbreaking surveys in galactic archaeology and cosmology. While her most-cited papers have accrued 7 and 4 citations respectively, their true impact lies in their role as foundational technical documentation for a flagship facility that will serve the astronomical community for decades. Colling’s expertise in translating complex engineering requirements into a working observatory instrument marks her as a key contributor to the future of multi-object spectroscopy.