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{{Short description|Indian scientist and astrophysicist}}
{{Orphan|date=October 2025}}
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| birth_date = February 8, 1950
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| occupation = Scientist
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'''Hashima Hasan''' (born February 8, 1950) is an Indian American [[scientist]] who has worked in the United States and India. She is the Program Scientist for the [[NuSTAR|Nuclear Spectroscopic Array]] (NuSTAR), [[IXPE|Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer]] (IXPE), the [[NASA]]/[[W. M. Keck Observatory]] partnership and the Education and Public Outreach Lead for Astrophysics. Hasan was also the Lead for Astronomy and Physics Research and Analysis (R&A) programs from 2001 to 2006. In the past, she served as the program scientist for numerous NASA projects, including the [[James Webb Space Telescope]], [[Hubble Space Telescope]], the [[Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer]] (WISE), [[Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer|Gravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEX]] (GEMS), [[Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy]], and the [[Explorers Program|Explorer Program]].

== Early life and education ==
Hasan grew up in [[Lucknow]], India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Tong |first=Julia |date=2021-12-30 |title=Indian American scientist launches telescope for NASA |url=https://asamnews.com/2021/12/30/deputy-program-scientist-hashima-hasan-continues-nasa-career-with-christmas-launch-of-webb-space-telescope/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=AsAmNews |language=en-US}}</ref> She attended a [[Roman Catholic]] all-girls school,<ref name=":1" /> [[Loreto Convent Lucknow|Loreto Convent, Lucknow]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Hashima Hasan & NASA's Webb Space Telescope |url=http://www.aligarhdc.org/hashimahasan/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |language=en}}</ref> At this school the girls, including Hasan were limited in the types of scientific knowledge they were allowed to learn, the exception being [[botany]].<ref name=":1" /> When she wanted to learn and study these subjects she resorted to using her brother's textbooks.<ref name=":1" /> Hasan was initially inspired to become a nuclear physicist after she saw the launch of the [[USSR]]'s first satellite at a young age.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2024-01-12 |title=Meet Dr. Hashima Hasan, the Lucknow genius behind NASA's epic James Webb Space telescope! |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/meet-dr-hashima-hasan-the-indian-genius-behind-nasas-epic-james-webb-space-telescope/articleshow/106754369.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-05-16 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> She was further inspired to get into the world of science by her teacher in the 6th grade, and the launch of [[Sputnik 1|Sputnik-1]].<ref name=":3" /> During these times her mother's support encouraged her to continue following her dreams.<ref name=":3" /> Other family members also motivated her, like her uncle Husain Zaheer, a former Director-General of the [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research]] (CSIR), and her aunt, Najama Zaheer, a [[biologist]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2022-01-14 |title=Meet Indian scientist Hashima Hasan, who helped launch NASA telescope |url=https://www.siasat.com/meet-indian-scientist-hashima-hasan-who-helped-launch-nasa-telescope-2257764/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

Hasan earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree from [[Lucknow University]].<ref name=":4" /> In 1970 she earned her master's degree in [[physics]] from [[Aligarh Muslim University]] (AMU).<ref name=":4" /> She then went on to receive her doctorate from the [[University of Oxford]], [[United Kingdom|U.K.]], in Theoretical Nuclear Physics in 1976.<ref name=":0" />

== Career ==
Hasan faced many obstacles in order to pursue her scientific research.<ref name=":1" /> She jumpstarted her career as soon as she finished her doctoral studies at Oxford.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2022-01-08 |title=Lucknow Woman Scientist Plays a Key Role in Launching of Ten Billion Dollar NASA's Webb Space Telescope |url=https://www.theindianpanorama.news/unitedstates/lucknow-woman-scientist-plays-a-key-role-in-launching-of-ten-billion-dollar-nasas-webb-space-telescope/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=The Indian Panorama |language=en-US}}</ref> Upon her arrival back to India she took on the role of a post-doctoral scholar at Mumbai's [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]] (TIFR).<ref name=":5" /> She also completed post-doctoral research and held teaching positions in the areas of environmental science and Theoretical Nuclear Physics.<ref name=":0" /> In specific she was chosen for a faculty post at the Physics Department, at [[Savitribai Phule Pune University|Poona University]] in India.<ref name=":1" /> Under this position, she taught postgraduate students.<ref name=":2" /> Furthermore, she conducted nuclear physics research at the [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre]] (BARC) in [[Mumbai]].<ref name=":5" />

Before joining NASA Headquarters in 1994, she worked as the Optical Telescope Assembly Scientist at the [[Space Telescope Science Institute]] in [[Baltimore]].<ref name=":0" /> As a Deputy Program Scientist, Hasan oversees and coordinates the Webb Telescope science program by ensuring that its mission is achievable and aligned with NASA's goals.<ref name=":0" /> She wrote the simulation software for the optics of the Hubble Space Telescope.<ref name=":4" /> While completing work for the Hubble Space Telescope she fixed an optical error that was created by the software.<ref name=":4" /> During her time under the R&A programs, she was in charge of establishing guidelines, managing budgets, and redesigning research programs to better meet NASA's objectives.<ref name=":0" /> In 2004, she obtained her Senior Executive Service qualification.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Hashima Hasan Biography Webb Telescope/NASA |url=https://webb.nasa.gov/content/meetTheTeam/people/hasan.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=webb.nasa.gov |language=en}}</ref> Hasan has published articles in various peer-reviewed journals, including ''[[Icarus (journal)|Icarus]]'', ''[[The Astrophysical Journal]]'', and ''[[Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific]]''.<ref name=":0" />

=== Awards ===
Hasan was honored with awards and fellowships like the [[Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan|Commonwealth Fellowship]] from 1973-1976 and the NASA HQ Exceptional Performance Award in 2008. She was a National Research Council Resident Research Associate from 1981-1983. As a student, she received a gold medal for physics and a merit award.<ref name=":0" />

== Personal life ==
Hasan married Aftab Ansari, a scientific officer at the [[National Institutes of Health]], in 1979.<ref name=":2" /> They have two sons.<ref name=":5" />

== References ==
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[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian astrophysicists]]

Hashima Hasan - Revision history

Avdhut Kamble: adding a article