Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Chad F. Bender is an astronomer and instrument scientist whose career is defined by building the cutting-edge tools that enable transformative spectroscopic surveys. His primary research areas include high-resolution stellar spectroscopy, astronomical instrumentation, and the study of stellar magnetic activity and exoplanet host stars. Bender’s most significant contribution is his central role in the design, construction, and commissioning of PEPSI (Potsdam Echelle Polarimetric and Spectroscopic Instrument) for the Large Binocular Telescope. This state-of-the-art, fiber-fed spectrograph and polarimeter covers the full optical spectrum from 384 to 913 nm at three resolving powers (up to R=250,000), allowing for unparalleled studies of stellar magnetic fields, chemical abundances, and exoplanet atmospheres. The foundational PEPSI paper has garnered 8 citations, establishing the instrument’s performance baseline for the community. More recently, Bender is a key contributor to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-V (SDSS-V), the first all-sky, multi-epoch, optical-to-infrared spectroscopic survey. This pioneering panoptic project, described in a 2025 paper, is mapping the Milky Way and beyond with multi-object spectroscopy across both hemispheres. Through his work on these flagship facilities, Bender is providing the astronomical community with the powerful observational capabilities needed to answer fundamental questions about star and planet formation.