Teresa Ashcraft

Dr. Teresa Ashcraft is an astrophysicsist with expertise in observational galaxy evolution and extragalactic deep fields. Throughout her career she has had oppurtunities to observe with many large and small telescopes throughout Arizona including the Large Binocular Telescope and the Discovery Channel Telescope. During her undergraduate years her reserach included studies of low-mass x-ray binaries and gamma ray burst. Once in graduate school at ASU her research interest shifted directions to focus on understanding galaxy evolution through the use of deep ground and space-based data of extragalactic fields. Dr. Ashcraft's current research utilizes data from the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in Az and the famous Hubble Space Telescope (HST).  

Dr. Ashcraft has extensitve experience teaching astronomy both in-person and online, including spending a year as an instructor of astronomy at Michigan State University. Currently, beyond her role at ASU, she is an assistant professor of physics at the Univeristy of the Virgin Islands (UVI).  At UVI her primary duites include teaching introductory and advance astronomy and physics courses, continuing her research, and mentoring students. Her current role at ASU is helping teach and develop astronomy courses for the new online Astronomy and Planetary Sciences degree.

 Beyond research and teaching, Teresa is an avid science communicator and enjoys volunteering at public outreach events. While a graduate student at ASU, she was director of the Earth and Space Open House event organized by the School of Earth and Space Exploration. Her involvment and expansion of this event was one of her greatest accomplishments during her time as a student at ASU.