Doyal ''Al'' Harper

Professor, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the College
Education: BA 1966 (Electrical Engineering) Rice University; PhD 1971 (Space Science) Rice University
Contact Information
Phone: (773) 702-0183
Location: TAAC 5; Yerkes Observ.
Email: al
oddjob.uchicago.edu
Research
Harper’s research deals with problems of formation of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems, physics of the interstellar medium, and properties of interstellar dust. His experimental research group constructs and operates infrared instrumentation. He helped pioneer astronomical research on airborne telescopes, and at the South Pole. His group is currently constructing the facility far infrared camera for NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Far Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).
Research Fields: Extragalactic Astronomy; Galactic Astronomy
Graduate Students
Current Students: Megan Bedell
Past Students: Reid Sherman (2011); David M. Cole (1999)
Teaching
Current & Future Courses
- ASTR 30300, Interstellar Matter: 2012 - 2013 (Winter)
Past Courses
- ASTR 36100, Interstellar Medium: 2009 - 2010 (Winter)
- ASTR 30300, Interstellar Matter: 2008 - 2009 (Spring); 2007 - 2008 (Spring); 2006 - 2007 (Spring); 2004 - 2005 (Spring)
- ASTR 18300, Searching Between the Stars: 2011 - 2012 (Winter); 2010 - 2011 (Winter); 2009 - 2010 (Spring); 2008 - 2009 (Winter); 2007 - 2008 (Winter)
- ASTR 28200, Special Topics (Exoplanets): 2011 - 2012 (Spring); 2010 - 2011 (Spring)
Department Committees
Past
- Adler: 2011 - 2012
- Candidacy: 2011 - 2012
- Time Allocation: 2011 - 2012
- Graduate Admission: 2010 - 2011 (Chair)