Indian professionals have made their mark across the globe, showcasing their talent and expertise by working in top companies. From tech giants to multinational corporations, Indians have secured top positions, bringing pride to the country. One such person is Hashima Hasan, who works in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
She works as the James Webb Space Telescope Deputy Program Scientist and the Education and Public Outreach Lead for Astrophysics. She is an Indian-origin woman born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, who has been critical in shaping the future through her contributions to two phenomenal projects - the James Webb and the Hubble Space Telescopes at the US agency. Before joining NASA back in 1994, she was the optical telescope assembly scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, USA. She was also one of the scientists who worked on the James Webb Space Telescope project which was launched in December 2021 at an estimated USD 10 billion (roughly Rs. 73,700 crore back then).
Hashima's marriage took her to the US, where she got hired to work on the Hubble, and later, the James Webb telescope project. Her husband, a fellow scientist, got a job at John Hopkins University, located in their new hometown, Baltimore. Hashima also found a job at the Space Science Institute. Her work involved writing the optics for the Hubble Space Telescope. Thus, she began her journey as an astronomer.
In 1976, Hasan earned a doctorate from the University of Oxford, UK in Theoretical Nuclear Physics. Until the year 1985, Dr. Hasan was deeply involved in post-doctoral studies and also taught Theoretical Nuclear Physics and Environmental Science.
Dr. Hasan, who is now the Deputy Program Scientist at NASA, is entrusted with the duty of managing the science program for the Webb Telescope. In her earlier roles, she's been the program scientist for many prominent NASA missions like the Hubble Space Telescope and the Explorer Program.
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