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<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title> Our Mission | IPAC Our Mission | IPAC </title> <meta content='text/html; charset=utf-8' http-equiv='Content-Type'> <meta content='IE=edge,chrome=1' http-equiv='X-UA-Compatible'> <meta content='width=device-width,initial-scale=1' name='viewport'> <link href="https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/css/timeline.css" media="screen" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <script src='https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/js/timeline.js'></script> <link href='https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/animate.css/3.5.2/animate.min.css' rel='stylesheet'> <link href='/favicon/apple-icon-57x57.png' rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='57x57'> <link href='/favicon/apple-icon-60x60.png' rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='60x60'> <link href='/favicon/apple-icon-72x72.png' rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='72x72'> <link href='/favicon/apple-icon-76x76.png' rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='76x76'> <link href='/favicon/apple-icon-114x114.png' rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='114x114'> <link href='/favicon/apple-icon-120x120.png' rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='120x120'> <link href='/favicon/apple-icon-144x144.png' rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='144x144'> <link href='/favicon/apple-icon-152x152.png' rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='152x152'> <link href='/favicon/apple-icon-180x180.png' rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='180x180'> <link href='/favicon/android-icon-192x192.png' rel='icon' sizes='192x192' type='image/png'> <link href='/favicon/favicon-32x32.png' rel='icon' sizes='32x32' type='image/png'> <link href='/favicon/favicon-96x96.png' rel='icon' sizes='96x96' type='image/png'> <link href='/favicon/favicon-16x16.png' rel='icon' sizes='16x16' type='image/png'> <link href='/favicon/manifest.json' rel='manifest'> <meta content='#ffffff' name='msapplication-TileColor'> <meta content='/favicon/ms-icon-144x144.png' name='msapplication-TileImage'> <meta content='#ffffff' name='theme-color'> <meta content='IPAC' property='og:site_name'> <meta content='Our Mission' property='og:title'> <meta content='Our Mission' name='title'> <meta content='https://www.ipac.caltech.edu/assets/hero_images/NED-allsky-ce8c69df9e88c4487d806c6bc3d8e346.jpg' property='og:image'> <meta content='https://www.ipac.caltech.edu/assets/hero_images/NED-allsky-ce8c69df9e88c4487d806c6bc3d8e346.jpg' name='image'> <meta content='https://www.ipac.caltech.edu/page/mission' property='og:url'> <meta content='article' property='og:type'> <meta content='IPAC at Caltech partners with NASA, NSF, JPL and the world-wide research community to advance exploration of our Universe. Beginning with the IRAS mission in 1983 and spanning through 2MASS, Spitzer, Herschel, Planck, WISE/NEOWISE and Euclid in recent years, we have enabled transformative research of the entire sky. We provide science operations, user support, archives and data services, and scientific vision to maximize discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. Next up, Lunar Trailblazer, SPHEREx, Roman, NEO Surveyor, and UVEX are all preparing to launch in the year and years ahead. We share these advances and discoveries with everyone through education outreach programs and award-winning communications. Our community of active researchers is dedicated and essential to fulfilling this mission.
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Roman Galaxy Redshift Survey Project Infrastructure Team </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/romanhliscosmopit">Roman HLIS Cosmology PIT <div class='small'> Roman Project Infrastructure Team: Cosmology with the Roman High Latitude Imaging Survey </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/uvcandels">UVCANDELS <div class='small'> Ultraviolet Imaging of the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey Fields </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/science/collaborations">More <i class='fa fa-angle-double-right'></i> </a></li> </ul> </div> <div class='col-md-3'> <ul> <li> <a href="/page/students" class="nav_header">Students</a> </li> <li> <a href="/page/students#graduate-students">Graduate Students</a> </li> <li> <a href="/page/students#undergraduate-students">Undergraduate Students</a> </li> <li> <a href="/page/students#high-school-students">High School Students</a> </li> <li> <a href="/page/students#citizen-scientist">Citizen Science</a> </li> <li> <a href="/page/students#working-at-IPAC">Working at IPAC</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class='sub_nav_pane' id='projects_subnav'> <div class='row'> <div class='col-md-3'> <ul> <li> <a href="/projects/category/archives-and-data-science" class="nav_header">Archives & Data Science</a> </li> <li> <a href="/project/irsa">IRSA <div class='small'> Infrared Science Archive </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/keck-archive">KOA <div class='small'> Keck Observatory Archive </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/exoplanet-archive">NASA Exoplanet Archive </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/ned">NED <div class='small'> NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database </div> </a></li> <div class='nav_divider'></div> <li> <a href="/project/exofop">ExoFOP <div class='small'> Exoplanet Follow-up Observing Program </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/fornax">Fornax <div class='small'> The Fornax Initiative </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/neid">NEID <div class='small'> NN-explore Exoplanet Investigations with Doppler spectroscopy </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/dois" alt="Digitial Object Indentifiers" class="nav_header" title="Digitial Object Indentifiers">DOIs</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class='col-md-3'> <ul> <li> <a href="/projects/category/missions-and-centers" class="nav_header">Missions & Centers</a> </li> <li> <a href="/project/euclid">Euclid <div class='small'> Euclid NASA Science Center at IPAC </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/nexsci">NExScI <div class='small'> NASA Exoplanet Science Institute </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/ztf">ZTF <div class='small'> Zwicky Transient Facility </div> </a></li> </ul> </div> <div class='col-md-3'> <ul> <li> <a href="/projects/status/in-development" class="nav_header">In Development</a> </li> <li> <a href="/project/ariel-case">ARIEL/CASE <div class='small'> Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/dsa-2000">DSA-2000 <div class='small'> Deep Synoptic Array </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/lunar-trailblazer">LTB <div class='small'> Lunar Trailblazer </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/neo-surveyor">NEO Surveyor <div class='small'> Near-Earth Object Surveyor </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/roman">Roman <div class='small'> Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/rubin">Rubin <div class='small'> Vera C. Rubin Observatory </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/spherex">SPHEREx <div class='small'> Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/uvex">UVEX <div class='small'> Ultraviolet Explorer </div> </a></li> </ul> </div> <div class='col-md-3'> <ul> <li> <a href="/projects/status/legacy" class="nav_header">Legacy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/project/2mass">2MASS <div class='small'> Two Micron All Sky Survey </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/herschel">Herschel <div class='small'> NASA Herschel Science Center </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/iras">IRAS <div class='small'> Infrared Astronomical Satellite </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/iso">ISO <div class='small'> Infrared Space Observatory </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/neowise">NEOWISE <div class='small'> Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/planck">Planck <div class='small'> U.S. Planck Data Center </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/sofia">SOFIA <div class='small'> Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/spitzer">Spitzer <div class='small'> Spitzer Science Center </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/tmt">TMT <div class='small'> Thirty Meter Telescope </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/wise">WISE <div class='small'> Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer </div> </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class='sub_nav_pane offset_left' id='future_subnav'> <div class='row'> <div class='col-md-3'> <ul> <li> <a href="/future/projects/in-development" class="nav_header">In Development</a> </li> <li> <a href="/project/ariel-case">ARIEL/CASE <div class='small'> Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/dsa-2000">DSA-2000 <div class='small'> Deep Synoptic Array </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/lunar-trailblazer">LTB <div class='small'> Lunar Trailblazer </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/neo-surveyor">NEO Surveyor <div class='small'> Near-Earth Object Surveyor </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/roman">Roman <div class='small'> Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/rubin">Rubin <div class='small'> Vera C. Rubin Observatory </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/spherex">SPHEREx <div class='small'> Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/uvex">UVEX <div class='small'> Ultraviolet Explorer </div> </a></li> </ul> </div> <div class='col-md-3'> <ul> <li> <a href="/future/projects/mission-studies-and-proposals" class="nav_header">Mission Studies & Proposals</a> </li> <li> <a href="/project/iscea">ISCEA <div class='small'> Infrared SmallSat for Cluster Evolution Astrophysics </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/joint-survey-processing">JSP <div class='small'> Joint Survey Processing </div> </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/prima">PRIMA <div class='small'> Probe Far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics </div> </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class='sub_nav_pane' id='education_subnav'> <div class='row'> <div class='col-md-3 right'> <ul> <li> <a href="/outreach#more-epo-projects" class="nav_header">More EPO Projects</a> </li> <li> <a href="/project/cool-cosmos">Cool Cosmos </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/explore-exoplanets">Explore Exoplanets: The Discoverers </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/nitarp">NITARP <div class='small'> NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program </div> </a></li> </ul> </div> <div class='col-md-3 right'> <ul> <li> <a href="/outreach#universe-of-learning" class="nav_header">NASA Universe of Learning</a> </li> <li> <a href="/project/astropix">AstroPix </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/uol-astrovisualization">Astrovisualization Community of Practice </a></li> <li> <a href="/project/universe-unplugged">Universe Unplugged </a></li> </ul> </div> <div class='col-md-3 right'> <ul> <li> <a href="/outreach" class="nav_header">Overview</a> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <a href="/outreach#key_expertise" class="nav_header">Key Expertise</a> </li> <li> <a href="/page/education">Education</a> </li> <li> <a href="/page/visualization">Science Visualization & 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<div class='container'> <div class='row'> <div class='col-md-12'> <h1 class='page_title'> Our Mission </h1> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='container offset_container'> <div class='row'> <div class='col-md-12'> <div class='raw'> <div class='content_box'> <blockquote style="text-align: center;"> <strong>IPAC at Caltech partners with NASA, NSF, JPL and the world-wide research community to advance exploration of our Universe through science operations, data archiving, community support and engagement. Our expertise includes cosmology and galaxy evolution, exoplanets, asteroids and the solar system, IR astrophysics and TDAMM.</strong></blockquote> <p> Beginning with the IRAS mission in 1983 and spanning through 2MASS, Spitzer, Herschel, Planck, WISE/NEOWISE and Euclid in recent years, we have enabled transformative research of the entire sky.</p> <p> Over our history of three decades, we have provided a range of support for more than 20 missions, helping each to bring forth major advances in astrophysics and cosmology.</p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/page/history">IPAC’s History</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/projects/status/legacy">Explore the Legacy of IPAC’s work on projects including IRAS, ISO, 2MASS, Spitzer, Herschel, Planck & WISE</a></li> </ul> <p> <strong>We provide science operations, user support, archives and data services, and scientific vision to maximize discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. </strong></p> <p> We seek to leverage our accumulated expertise to provide outstanding service for our current missions, and to optimally guide development of the next generation of observational facilities.   Through our historic pursuit to uncover the infrared Universe, we have gained special insight into all-sky surveys, observations of moving targets, time domain science, and data archive discovery.</p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/projects/category/missions-and-centers">Active IPAC Missions</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/projects/status/in-development">Missions in Development</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/future/projects/mission-studies-and-proposals">Mission Studies & Proposals</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/projects/category/archives-and-data-science">IPAC Archives & Data Science</a></li> </ul> <p> <strong>We share these discoveries with the public through education outreach programs and award-winning media. </strong></p> <p> We believe that public literacy and engagement in science is essential to its advancement, and the advancement of human civilization.  We leverage our integrated knowledge of science, communication, visualization, and education to capture the imagination of explorers and learners of all ages and backgrounds.</p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/outreach">IPAC Outreach and Communications</a></li> </ul> <p> <strong>Our community of active researchers is dedicated and essential to fulfilling this mission.</strong></p> <p> The scientific expertise at IPAC combined with our technical knowledge of science operations and data science allow IPAC to drive scientific exploration and provide multifaceted support to the research community at-large.  IPAC scientific staff are engaged in forefront research spanning a broad range of fields in astrophysics and planetary sciences.  Areas of special focus include exoplanets; dark energy and cosmology; star formation and galaxy evolution; asteroids and the solar system; time-domain astronomy; and the area in which IPAC has provided leadership for over three decades -- exploration of the infrared and sub-mm universe.</p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/science">IPAC Science</a></li> </ul> <p> <strong>We believe in a collaborative, inclusive, and diverse community, and a culture that supports all of our members.</strong></p> <p> In all of our work at IPAC, we strive to engage with all members of the astronomy community as well as the general public. This includes a goal of recruiting and maintaining a diverse team within IPAC, and welcoming people from all backgrounds.</p> <p> People choose to work at IPAC for many reasons, and the collegial, employee-centric culture often leads to fulfilling, long-term careers and positive relationships. IPAC strives to be a safe and inclusive space for all. Our open and welcoming environment leads to fulfilled staff, and better results for our staff, our organization, our community and our science.</p> <p> All of this work is ongoing, and there is always room to improve. We invite you to be part of our team, and contribute to our efforts to grow and excel in all that we do.</p> <p> <strong>Opportunities at IPAC</strong></p> <p> As of today, about 150 people work at IPAC in a variety of roles:</p> <ul> <li> Science staff (40%)</li> <li> Applications developers (30%)</li> <li> Operations and Administration (30%)</li> </ul> <p> We also have a cohort of about 10 postdocs at most times, and a number of students participating in a variety of programs.</p> <p> And … we are growing! We'd love to hear from you! Let's see if there may be a place for you at IPAC. Please see the following for our current <a href="https://www.ipac.caltech.edu/page/opportunities">opportunities and job openings</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='container'> </div> </div> </div> <div class='footer_box'> <div class='container'> <div class='row'> <div class='col-md-4'> <div class='footer_group affiliates'> <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu" alt="Infrared Processing and Analysis Center" title="Infrared Processing and Analysis Center"><img alt="Ipac" src="/assets/ipac-4c1a46bd7efc14226bcc882880fc2871.png" /></a> <a href="http://www.caltech.edu" alt="California Institute of Technology" title="California Institute of Technology"><img alt="Caltech" src="/assets/caltech-8ad9780e54d034d665af4a3dbd37d62c.png" /></a> </div> </div> <div class='col-md-8 footer_wrapper'> <div class='row'> <div class='col-xs-6 col-md-3'> <div class='footer_group'> <p class='list_header'> Policies </p> <ul class='page_links'> <li> <i class='fa fa-angle-right'></i> <a href="/page/privacy">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <i class='fa fa-angle-right'></i> <a href="/page/image-use-policy">Image Use Policy</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class='col-xs-6 col-md-3'> <div class='footer_group'> <p class='list_header'> Get in Touch </p> <ul class='page_links'> <li> <i class='fa fa-angle-right'></i> <a href="/page/contact#visitor-information">Visit IPAC</a> </li> <li> <i class='fa fa-angle-right'></i> <a href="/page/contact">Contact Us</a> </li> <li> <i class='fa fa-angle-right'></i> <a href="/staff">People</a> </li> <li> <i class='fa fa-angle-right'></i> <a href="/page/opportunities">Job Opportunities</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class='col-xs-6 col-md-3'> <div class='footer_group'> <p class='list_header'> Stay in Touch </p> <ul class='page_links'> <li> <i class='fa fa-angle-right'></i> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/caltechipac/">Facebook</a> </li> <li> <i class='fa fa-angle-right'></i> <a href="https://twitter.com/caltechipac">Twitter</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script> //<![CDATA[ (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-35868239-14', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); //]]> </script> <script src="/assets/application-dd3d068431ffda3da184aa851ca157d3.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script> //<![CDATA[ $(document).ready(function() { setTimeout(function(){ levelSections(); }, 25) }); //]]> </script> </body> </html>