Astronomer and hyperspectral imaging researcher who leads EPIC Initiatives at Clemson University and founded its new international consortium, EPICON.
Bruce Rafert is Director of EPIC Initiatives at Clemson University's Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center and the founding executive director of EPICON, the Eukaryotic Pathogens International Consortium that links EPIC with partners including the University of São Paulo, the University of Ghana and Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. A Ph.D. astronomer (University of Florida) and Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy, he built a research career in automated telescopes, space science and Fourier-transform hyperspectral imaging, and he is applying those remote-sensing techniques to the microscopic imaging of fungal and parasitic pathogens after being accepted onto the Fulbright Specialist Roster. He is a former academic administrator — Vice Provost and Dean of Clemson's Graduate School and later Provost of North Dakota State University — and currently serves as vice president of the South Carolina Fulbright Association chapter board.