Rate My Professor Casey DeRoo

Casey DeRoo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at The University of Iowa, specializing in Space Science. He earned his PhD in Physics from the University of Iowa in 2016, with a thesis titled Fabrication and Testing of Off-Plane Gratings for Future X-ray Spectroscopy Missions. Prior to that, he received a BA in Physics and Classical Studies, Summa Cum Laude with Credo Honors, from Concordia College in 2011. His professional career includes serving as Leon Van Speybroeck Postdoctoral Fellow in X-ray Optics and Astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory from 2016 to 2018. He joined the University of Iowa as Assistant Professor in 2018 and was promoted to Associate Professor. DeRoo's research focuses on X-ray astronomy, including the development of X-ray telescopes, instrumentation such as diffraction gratings and high-performance mirrors, optical design, X-ray spectroscopy, and machine learning applications in astronomy. He leads the DeRoo Research Group, securing NASA funding as principal investigator and co-investigator for projects like Curved Customized Gratings for High Energy Spectroscopy and High Efficiency UV Blazed Gratings.

DeRoo has received the Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship from NASA Astrophysics Division since 2021 for developing freeform grating patterns, the Collegiate Teaching Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2023-2024 for outstanding teaching and mentoring, and the Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Award for 2026, recognizing his national reputation and mentorship. Key publications include DeRoo et al., Limiting Spectral Resolution of a Reflection Grating Made via Electron-beam Lithography, The Astrophysical Journal (2020); DeRoo et al., Large-format X-Ray Reflection Grating Operated in an Echelle-like Mounting, The Astrophysical Journal (2020); Miles et al., Fabrication and Diffraction Efficiency of a Large-format, Replicated X-Ray Reflection Grating, The Astrophysical Journal (2018); and DeRoo, Deterministic Figure Correction of Piezoelectrically Adjustable Slumped Glass Optics, Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems (2018). His work has garnered over 950 citations. DeRoo teaches courses from general education to graduate levels using active learning and has appeared on Iowa Public Radio discussing James Webb Space Telescope observations. His students have won NASA FINESST awards and Iowa Space Grant Consortium scholarships.