Professional Title/Position

Senior Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Affiliations

• American Astronomical Society
• International Astronomical Union

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Laboratory Astrophysics, especially as applied to High-Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy
• Interstellar Medium: Gas & Dust
• Supernova Remnants
• Atomic Databases
• X-ray satellite mission development

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Secretary, High Energy Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical Society (2012-2015)
• Chair, COSPAR Panel on Capacity-Building Workshop Fellowship Program (2010-present)
• Member, Astro-H Science Office (2010-present)
• Member, Chandra Users’ Committee (2006-2008)

I have led or co-organized eight conferences & workshops, beginning with “X-ray Diagnostics of Astrophysical Plasmas: Theory, Experiment & Observation” in 2004 and including workshops on X-rays & Charge Exchange, AtomDB workshops, the 1st CfA Lab Astrophysics Workshops, and most recently the CXC workshop on High-Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy.

Peer-review referee for Nature, The Astrophysical Journal, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Advances in Space Research, Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables, Spectroscopy Letters, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, Reviews of Scientific Instruments, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, and The Astronomical Journal

Professional Experience and Positions

• Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Astrophysicist (2008 – 2014)
• Johns Hopkins University, Physics & Astronomy, Research Scientist (2004 – 2008)
• Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Astrophysicist (1997 – 2004)
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center NRC Post-doctoral Fellow (1996 – 1997)

Candidate Statement

Laboratory astrophysics sits at a triple boundary, connecting laboratory measurements, observational data, and astronomical facilities. The connection between the first two of these has always been well known, but the issue of facilities – e.g. mirrors, detectors, and spectrographs – is not. I believe we can serve both the astronomical and the LAD communities by working to improve communications in both areas.

Beginning with the first boundary, the LAD exists in part to make connections between those who can perform measurements and those observers who need data. This may seem simple, but in many cases the observers have only a hazy understanding of the limitations of existing atomic, molecular, nuclear, or optical data, while experimentalists in turn cannot hope to keep up with all of the rapid changes of goals, facilities, and techniques involved in astrophysical observations. Maintaining the LAD summer workshops and expanding them to other special sessions will be key to removing the haze and informing all sides about what data exists now, what could be measured easily, and what requires long-term efforts.

The second boundary connects not to individual observations or issues, but rather to existing and more importantly future capabilities. All LAD scientists know the frustration of applying to programs that are woefully underfunded to understand results from observatories that cost orders of magnitude more than is provided for laboratory work. The astronomical community will soon begin work on the 2020 Decadal Survey, with many new ideas and observatories considered. LAD members need to be involved from the outset to ensure that all lab data requirements are known – and included in the cost of the facility. LAD cannot solve the funding problem itself, but we can ensure that news of observatories and their potential laboratory astrophysics needs reaches the membership via the LAD newsletter. If elected, I will work to reach out to the leaders of existing observatories and new concepts to make these connections.

Professional Title/Position

Jansky Postdoctoral Fellow, National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Degrees and Education

• Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, California Institute of Technology (2015)
• M.S. Physical Chemistry, Emory University (2011)
• B.S. Highest Distinction, Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2009)

Affiliations

• American Astronomical Society
• American Chemical Society
• American Physical Society

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

Laboratory Astrophysics
• Gas-Phase Microwave and (sub-)mm Spectroscopy
• Condensed-Phase TeraHertz and IR Spectroscopy
Observational Astrochemistry
• Radio and (sub-)mm Astronomy
• Far-IR Astronomy
• Formation and Chemical Evolution of Complex Organic Molecules
Astrobiology

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Session Organizer “Interstellar Chemical Evolution: Astrochemistry from Atoms to Amino Acids”
Astrobiology Science Conference, Chicago, IL, June 2015
• Chair, Scientific Organizing Committee, 2015 Astrobiology Graduate Conference
University of Wisconsin – Madison, July 2015
• Chair, Scientific Organizing Committee, 2014 Astrobiology Graduate Conference
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, July, 2014
• Member, Chemistry Graduate Studies Committee
California Institute of Technology, 2013-2015
• Tour Guide, CARMA 2012, 2013, and 2014 Open Houses
Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy
• Group Leader, Kids and Chemistry Outreach Program
  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006-2007
• Peer-review referee for Astronomy & Astrophysics and Advances in Space Research

Professional Experience and Positions

• Jansky Postdoctoral Fellow, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, 2014-Present
• NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Caltech, 2011-2014
• Robert Woodruff Research Fellow, Emory University, 2009-2011
• Head Teach Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008-2009
• Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007-2008
• Research Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006-

Candidate Statement

The LAD of the AAS has the potential to bring both laboratory and observational groups together in a coherent effort to tackle the most significant lines of inquiry in the field today. Many times our community engages in collaborative efforts fortuitously when laboratory and observational work, often temporally separated by many years, meet as new capabilities in one or the other are unlocked. As a result, neither project usually provides exactly what the other requires to completely answer key questions. Rather, I believe that a strong interdisciplinary effort to tackle projects from the ground up in both the lab and at the observatory will produce the major advances of the next decade.

A strong leadership is essential to foster these interactions. I believe I am in an excellent position to do so, as my own research in both fields allows me to be conversant with all members of the community, and has given me an awareness of the current states-of-the-art and emerging new directions in Laboratory Astrophysics. As an early-career researcher with a wide network of peers in both laboratory and observational work, I am well situated to foster these interdisciplinary approaches among both new members and emerging leaders. Finally, I believe that I will bring a unique perspective to the Committee regarding both the opportunities and the challenges faced by early-career researchers such as myself as they transition to conducting independent careers in research.

Professional Title/Position

Associate Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Western Ontario, Canada & Research Scientist, SETI Institute, USA.

Degrees and Education

• Ph.D, University of Amsterdam, 2002
• M.Sc Astronomy, University of Porto, Leiden University, 1996
• M.Sc Physics, KU Leuven, 1995

Affiliations

• American Astronomical Society
• Canadian Astronomical Society
• Dutch Astronomical Society (NAC)
• International Astronomical Union
• American Chemical Society

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Astrochemistry
• Molecular Spectroscopy
• Late Stages of Stellar Evolution
• Circumstellar and Interstellar Matter

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Co-chair of the Scientific Organizing Committee of IAU Symposium 297 “The Diffuse Interstellar Bands”, Noordwijkerhout, 2013; co-editor of conference proceedings
• Member of the Space Science Program Committee for the Conference on Intelligent Data Understanding, Boulder CO, 2012
• Member of the Scientific Organizing Committee for “The Red Rectangle Workshop”, Charlottesville, 2006
• Peer-review referee for PNAS, Nature, ApJ, A&A, MNRAS, ApSS, JCP, JQSRT,IJA
• External referee for CanTAC (Gemini, CFHT)
• Proposal reviewer for NSERC, NASA/NPP, FNRS, FWO

Professional Experience and Positions

• Associate Professor, The University of Western Ontario, 2013-present
• Assistant Professor, The University of Western Ontario, 2006-2013
• Research Scientist, SETI Institute, 2005-present
• NRC Research Associate, NASA Ames Research Center, 2002-2005

Candidate Statement

Laboratory Astrophysics is crucial to the interpretation of astronomical observations and to the creation of state-of-the-art theoretical models. It is a rich and unique field that is thus relevant and useful to a wide variety of researchers studying the Universe near and far. If elected to serve on the AAS LAD committee, I see it as a key responsibility to further create and strengthen connections between researchers in the various disciplines. As an observational astronomer who uses laboratory data frequently, and through my collaborations with laboratory astrophysicists and chemists, I believe I am well positioned to do so. I would furthermore also work actively in promoting laboratory astrophysics to the more general astronomical community; in particular, I would focus on making laboratory data more readily available to astronomers (e.g. through databases) in a format they can work with and in a clear language.

Professional Title/Position

Professor of Astronomy and of Physics, University of Illinois

Degrees and Education

• A.B. in Physics and in English (magna cum laude), Williams College, 1989
• Ph.D. in Physics, University of Chicago, 1994

Affiliations

• American Astronomical Society
• American Physical Society

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Particle and nuclear astrophysics and cosmology
• Big-bang nucleosynthesis, cosmic rays, gamma rays, supernovae
• Cosmological, supernova, solar, and terrestrial neutrinos
• Particle dark matter
• Cosmological constraints on Supersymmetry, and interplay with the LHC
• Astrobiology

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Chair, Department of Astronomy, University of Illinois, 2014-present
• International Advisory Committee, Joint Institute in Nuclear Astrophysics, 2013-present
• Site Review Panelist, NSF Physics Frontier Center Program 2013
• Grant Review Panelist, NASA Astrophysics Theory Program, NASA Fermi Guest Investigator Program
• Working group convener, Nuclear Astrophysics Town Meeting 2012
• External Review Committee, Department of Physics, Bowdoin College

Professional Experience and Positions

• Department of Astronomy University of Illinois: Professor 2012-,
  • Associate Professor 2006-2012, Assistant Professor 2000-2006, Visiting Assistant Professor 1998-
• Research Associate, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, 1997-
• Research Associate, Notre Dame University, 1996-1998
• NSF-NATO Postdoctoral Fellow, Institut d’Astrophysique, Paris

Candidate Statement

Particle physics plays a central and growing role in Laboratory Astrophysics. The interplay among particle physics, cosmology, and astrophysics has led to astonishing advances that rank among the highlights of scientific advances in the last century. Progress in all of these fields is now deeply linked. Moreover, with the advent of PeV extragalactic neutrino astronomy, present and future GeV and TeV telescopes, and the likely dawn of gravitational wave astronomy, multimessenger astronomy is poised to emerge as a new active field. Realizing the science potential of particle astrophysics demands active communication and collaboration across a wide range of disciplines. My own research lies at this intersection, and has sought to leverage the links spanning accelerator data to astronomical observations. The LAD has played a role in bridging these disciplines and recognizing pioneering research; it can still do more. As a member of the Executive Committee I would work to highlight particle physics progress directly bearing on astrophysical questions, e.g., dark matter experimental constraints from LHC. But perhaps more importantly, I would work to engage the broader astronomy community to appreciate the interplay with broader questions astronomy and cosmology, e.g., how particle astrophysics offers unique probes of star formation, supernova feedback processes, and even radiation environments relevant to astrobiology. Finally, I will work to increase the inclusiveness of the LAD to help create a welcoming climate for scientists from all backgrounds.

Professional Title/Position

Senior Space Fellow, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley

Degrees and Education

• Ph.D., University College London, 1982
• B.Sc. Sussex University, UK, (Honors) in Physics, Math & Astronomy, 1977

Affiliations

• American Astronomical Society
• Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers
• Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Physics of particle and radiation interactions with matter
• Implementation of technologies for cross cutting science measurement systems

Services, Roles, and Activities

• National Institute of Standards and Technology, Panel member - Instrumentation: Imaging & Detectors, NCNR Expansion Workshop, 2006
• Executive committee member, Space Sciences Laboratory, UC Berkeley, 1994-2004
• Committee member, National Research Council, Task Group reviewing Technology strategy in NASA Office of Space Science, 1998-2000
• Committee member, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Engineering Division Review, 2000
• Committee member, Goddard Space Flight Center, UV Branch Review 3/00
• UVMOWG member, NASA UV - Visible Branch, 1994 - 1995
• Peer review committee member, STIS & AXAF, NASA HQ, 1994
• Panel member NASA Astrotech 21, Pasadena, 1990
• Member, IEEE nuclear science symposium technical program committee, 1984, 1989, 1991
• Conference chair/organizer for SPIE conferences, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015
• Symposium Chair, SPIE Annual Meeting Astronomy, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015
Co-Organizer, Technology and Instrumentation in Particle Physics 2011 Conference,
• Panel member, Keck Institute for Space Studies, “Next gen. UV/Optical instrument technologies”, 2011
• Panel member, National Academy of Sciences NTR – Instruments and Computing Workshop, 2011
• Organizing Committee co-Chair, 1st Workshop on Photocathodes, U. Chicago, 2009
• Organizing Committee co-Chair, 2nd Workshop on Photocathodes, 300nm -500nm, U. Chicago, 2012
• Consultant and co-author, "Voyage Through The Universe", Time-Life books, 1991
• Reviewer for Applied Optics, 1984 - 1988, 1990-1995. 1998-1999, 2010, 2011, Review of Scientific Instruments, 1985, 1988 - 1990, 1992-3, 1997-2002, 2005. Nuclear Instruments and Methods, 2000, 2010, 2012, IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 1984 - 1991, 1993-1997, 2002-03, Journal of Electronic Materials, 2010, Physics Procedia, 2011. Reviewer for NSF, 1995, 2005, 2006, Smithsonian Institute, 1988, NASA, 1988, 1994, DOE, 1986. 2001, 2002, 2009, Swiss National Institute, 1995

Professional Experience and Positions

• Senior Space Fellow, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 1995-present
• Adjunct Professor, Astronomy Department, University of California, Berkeley, 1996-1999
• Associate Director, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 1995-2004
• Senior Fellow, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 1989-1995
• Full Research Physicist, University of California, Berkeley, 1994-present
• Associate Research Physicist, University of California, Berkeley, 1988-1994
• Assistant Research Physicist, University of California, Berkeley, 1982-1988
• Research Assistant, University College London, England, 1980-1982

Candidate Statement

Many areas of advancement in observational astrophysics have been facilitated by strong connections with other disciplines and implementation of novel laboratory instrumentation. I have interacted with a wide range of organizations researching measurement techniques for detection systems from the soft x-ray to near IR, neutrons, and charged particles in both imaging and spectroscopic applications. If elected to the LAD committee, I would work actively to establish stronger connections between laboratory and observational communities, including heliospheric, planetary and astrophysical arenas. There are also considerable challenges currently facing prospective laboratory astrophysicists in the U.S., and promoting their access and involvement across a wide range of associated topics is a specific goal for my service.