Daniel Apai is an astrophysicist specializing in studies of extrasolar planets with the long-term goal of identifying planetary systems capable of supporting life. He is working on the interface of planetary science and astronomy and holds an appointment as Professor at the Steward Observatory and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory of The University of Arizona. Apai is currently the Interim Associate Dean for Research at the College of Science at The University of Arizona.
He is an author of over 200 refereed research papers that received more than 11,000 citations. He is leading major programs on some of the largest ground- and space-based telescopes, and co-leads a technology development program to enable a new generation of very large space telescopes.
Dr Apai is the Principal Investigator of the Alien Earths, a major NASA-funded astrobiology research team exploring the potential of nearby planetary systems for supporting life. He is also the principal investigator of the Nautilus Space Telescope, a novel space mission concept designed for a very large-scale biosignature survey, utilizing ultralight-weight optics and a telescope array with a light-collecting area equivalent to that of a 50m diameter space telescope. He served on a number of science advisory boards and steering committees.
Curriculum Vitae
Daniel Apai’s Curriculum Vitae
Education and Training
Daniel Apai has studied Physics at the University of Szeged in Hungary, and obtained a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Heidelberg for research carried out at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy.
He has been a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona with the NASA Astrobiology Institute. He moved to the Space Telescope Science Institute as assistant astronomer in 2008, where he was member of the Science Policy Group. In 2011 he moved to the University of Arizona as faculty. He is currently Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science and Interim Associate Dean for Research at the College of Science.
Apai was co-editor of the book Protoplanetary Dust and a consultant for the children’s book Stars. He has organized and co-organized many international conferences and workshops, several of which has focused on developing the links between studies of extrasolar planetary systems and the Solar System, in context of astrobiology.
His work has been featured in various online and printed media.
Travel and Photography
In my free time I enjoy traveling and photography.