Meet Joleen Carlberg - Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) Branch Manager at STScI

In commemoration of the 34th launch anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), we're delighted to highlight the exceptional contributions of Joleen Carlberg . As we reflect on Hubble's remarkable journey through the cosmos, it's important to recognize the dedicated individuals like Joleen who have played pivotal roles in its success.

Joleen serves as the Branch Manager for Hubble Space Telescope's (HST) instrument Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), overseeing its operations and ensuring its continued functionality in unlocking the mysteries of the universe. With her expertise and dedication, Joleen has been instrumental in the ongoing mission of Hubble, supporting its vital role in scientific discovery.

Moreover, Joleen was an integral part of the core implementation team for the ULLYSES program, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing the frontiers of space exploration.

We had the privilege of sitting down with Joleen to learn more about her journey at STScI and her unwavering support for the Hubble Mission.

• Can you tell us about the journey at STScI that led to your current role?

I have been part of the Space?Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) team since my first day, back in 2016, where I started working on tracking how the sensitivity?of STIS's three detectors change over time. I worked on a few different projects for STIS, but I especially enjoyed "user support" - helping Hubble's guest observers make the most of their STIS observations and reviewing planned observations for safety, since two of?STIS's detectors can be damaged by over-illumination.? I also joined the core implementation team for the ULLYSES program and had a brief stint as the data products lead.? However, in?2020, the STIS lead at the time moved on to?pursue other opportunities within STSCI, leaving big shoes to fill. ? It was an opportunity that I knew I would jump at if it had come a few years down the road, but thanks to the encouragement of my mentors I made the leap and landed where I am today.?

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• How have you been supporting the Hubble Telescope?

?STIS is one of two spectrographs onboard Hubble that provides access to ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths that can only be observed from space.? STIS has the distinction of providing the highest spectral resolution - the ability to provide the finest distinctions between neighboring colors of light - with its four echelle gratings. Working with echelle data is one of my areas of expertise, so when one of STIS's gratings exhibited an unexpected shift in its optical properties, I took the lead in remeasuring the grating's optical properties so we could again accurately describe how much light an astronomical object was emitting at different wavelengths. Since I've become team lead, I've had to develop much more awareness of all of STIS's?quirks. STIS is such an amazingly flexible instrument that can be configured in many different ways. It is also the oldest of the four active instruments on board Hubble, meaning it has been exposed to the harsh environment of space the longest. Our team is always working hard to monitor the health of the instrument and keeping an eye out for unexpected changes so that STIS will continue to deliver amazing data for years to come.?

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• What is the most memorable thing about your work with Hubble’s instrumentation?

I've always found it humbling to work on an instrument with such a long history. I’m young enough that I don't really remember a time before Hubble - it was already a fixture by the time I became aware of astronomy. What I'll find most memorable about my work with Hubble is the joy and pride in contributing to STIS's scientific legacy.? My work helps enable the success of a wide range of disciplines: I may be thinking about the moons of Jupiter one day, and think about the dust and stars in a distant galaxy the next.

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• What excites you most about the future of your instrument and the Hubble Telescope?

I'm most excited to see how Hubble's unique ultraviolet capabilities will be able to support new and emerging science. Right now, we're seeing a growth in the field of transient science with new surveys coming online with the ability to detect large numbers of rare and/or short lived phenomena. We expect to see growing demand for Hubble (including STIS) to provide rapid follow up to better characterize these kinds of events. Hubble can also complement the data taken with JWST to provide a more holistic view of important physical processes. A great example is in the field of exoplanets, where the ultraviolet light emitted by a star has a major impact in the chemistry of an exoplanet atmosphere that is observed in different wavelengths of light.

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