Astronomer Dr. Ashby is the current Chair of the Center for Astrophysics' Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division. His research focuses primarily on infrared surveys of different kinds. Until recently this was concerned with deep extragalactic surveys using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, to better understand galaxy evolution over cosmic time. Currently, however, Dr. Ashby is a Co-Investigator with NASA's SPHEREx mission (due to launch in the spring of 2025) and, in that capacity, he is helping define the SPHEREx infrared spectroscopic survey for biogenic compounds in the Milky Way.