Two CATA researchers obtain tenured professorships at the UDP

CATA astronomers James Jenkins and Manuel Aravena were named full professors of the Universidad Diego Portales (UDP). This degree is the highest recognition for academic trajectory within the university.

Two astronomers who are members of the Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) were recently appointed as full professors by the Universidad Diego Portales (UDP). They are James Jenkins, Principal Investigator of CATA, and Manuel Aravena, Associate Researcher, both academics of the Institute of Astrophysical Studies of the UDP.

The award was officially presented during the Annual Account 2024, conducted by the rector of the university, Carlos Peña. At the event, different academics from the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences who obtained the rank of full professor between 2022 and 2023 were highlighted. James Jenkins received this category in 2022, while Manuel Aravena was promoted in 2023.

Since 2007, Universidad Diego Portales has been carrying out an important process of academic hierarchy, managed by independent disciplinary commissions that evaluate the trajectory of the applicants. Reaching the rank of full professor represents the highest academic recognition within the institution.

For James Jenkins, Principal Investigator of CATA, this milestone represents a key moment in his career. “It is a great honor to receive this recognition because it marks the point at which your body of work has reached the highest academic level,” he commented. He also emphasized that this milestone further projects CATA’s impact by facilitating the leadership of large-scale scientific projects. “CATA is going to be leading high-impact projects, at the same time that it reinforces its corps with researchers of high positions, which also strengthens our positioning in the national and international astronomical community,” he added.

Manuel Aravena, Associate Researcher of our Center, valued the distinction as a significant step in his professional career. “It is a recognition of the sustained work in research, teaching and linkage with the environment, as well as an opportunity to assume with greater responsibility the role of training new generations of scientists and scientists, and also to take on greater responsibilities within our University,” he said. He also mentioned that the recognition not only strengthens the prestige, but also strengthens the research line of our institution. “Having tenured professors contributes to consolidate CATA’s academic and research leadership, attract new talents, and strengthen its positioning both nationally and internationally. In addition, it allows us to continue promoting high-impact scientific projects and foster broader collaboration networks,” he concluded.

From our Center we congratulate our researchers for this recognition of their academic and scientific excellence, which reinforces their mission to contribute to the scientific development of Chile and the world through astronomical research.