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About

Tom Herbst is a leading figure in astronomical instrumentation and survey science, best known for his pivotal role in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V). His primary research areas encompass wide-field spectroscopy, robotic telescope operations, and the development of cutting-edge multi-object spectrographs. Herbst’s major contribution is his leadership in pioneering "panoptic spectroscopy"—the first all-sky, multi-epoch, optical-to-infrared spectroscopic survey. This groundbreaking work, detailed in his most-cited paper (25 citations), enables simultaneous mapping of millions of celestial objects across both hemispheres using the Sloan Foundation Telescope and its southern counterpart. By coordinating multi-object spectroscopy (MOS) at multiple observatories, Herbst has revolutionized our ability to study time-domain astrophysics, from variable stars to active galactic nuclei. His achievements include overseeing the technical and operational challenges of a truly global survey, ensuring SDSS-V’s legacy as a cornerstone of modern astronomy. With a career dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what large-scale surveys can achieve, Herbst continues to inspire the next generation of instrument builders and data-driven astronomers.