Software Manager
Resume:
Mark Edward Cornell
The University of Texas at Austin
McDonald Observatory
Austin, TX 78712-1206
Phone: 512-***-**** Fax: 512-***-****
aboyv9@r.postjobfree.com://puck.as.utexas.edu
Education Ph.D. in Astronomy, May 1989
University of Arizona
Dissertation: A Search for Additional Parameters in the Infrared
Luminosity / 21 cm Line-width Relation for Spiral Galaxies in
Clusters of Galaxies
B.S. with honor in Astronomy, June 1983
California Institute of Technology
Research Structure and dynamics of galaxies. Pseudobulges, supermassive
black holes, and galaxy evolution. Wide-field imaging and surface
photometry.
Experience
Systems Scientist
HETDEX Project, McDonald Observatory 9/08 to present
Derive and document functional requirements, verify compliance,
specify and test hardware, develop algorithms, define the mount
model, and coordinate the development of the commissioning plan
for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) Wide Field Upgrade and
Dark Energy Experiment.
Interim Software Lead
HETDEX Project, McDonald Observatory 2/08 to 9/08
Led software planning for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Wide Field
Upgrade and Dark Energy Experiment through PDR.
Research Scientist
McDonald Observatory, University of Texas6/03 to present
Conduct personal research, collaborating with John Kormendy
and others. Co-I funding and telescope time proposals.
Manager of Computing ServicesMcDonald Observatory, University of Texas9/93 to 5/03
Led the computing services group with 8 direct reports, includ-
ing 3 programmers, 3 system managers, a webmaster, and an
administrative assistant. Typically, two of the programmers and
one of the system managers were Ph.D. astronomers. The group
provided daily operations support for the observatory and the
department of astronomy, including purchasing, installation, and
maintenance for 150 personal computers and 100 workstations,
and software development for observatory operations. Served as
team lead for data acquisition and instrument control software.
Served as manager for Science Operations software (including
queue scheduling), and supervised the completion and commis-
sioning of the telescope control system, for the HET.
Mark E. Cornell R'esum'e 2
InstructorDepartment of Astronomy, University of Texas5/93 to 8/93
Co-taught graduate course AST392G, Observing Techniques in
Astronomy . Topics included direct imaging and low-resolution,
long-slit spectroscopy with CCDs, as well as instrument theory
and scientific backup for a globular cluster color-magnitude project
on McDonald s 0.8-m telescope and a project to classify photoion-
ization mechanisms using McDonald s 2.1-m.
Research Scientist Associate
Computer Support Group
McDonald Observatory, University of Texas10/90 to 9/93
Provided software support, documentation, and training for astro-
nomical image processing and graphics packages including AIPS,
IRAF, GASP, STSDAS, DAOPHOT, PGPLOT, MONGO, and
XANADU. Participated in specification, testing, and development
of spectrograph and CCD control software, and a system to sched-
ule observations on the HET. Performed system management for
a network of 50 Sun workstations. Personal research. Supervised
graduate students.
Postdoctoral FellowCCD Development Group
McDonald Observatory, University of Texas10/88 to 10/90
Developed test software for the CCD group, including instrument
control software for various CCD systems and for a monochroma-
tor used to measure the absolute sensitivity of CCDs. Provided
software support for several image processing and graphics pack-
ages. Debugged CCD hardware and software problems. Personal
research.
Graduate Research AssistantSteward Observatory, University of Arizona6/87 to 10/88
Provided software support for several mainframe graphics pack-
ages. Served as a consultant for personal computer applications.
Personal research.
Graduate Research Assistant
CCD Transit Instrument (CTI) Project
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona5/86 to 6/87
Developed algorithms for star / galaxy separation in a database
5
consisting of ~ 10 images collected each night by a 72-inch
automated telescope with CCD detectors. Derived galaxy counts
and the angular correlation function from these data.
Graduate Teaching AssistantDepartment of Astronomy, University of Arizona8/83 to 5/86
Led discussion sections, graded exams, and gave lectures in sup-
port of the introductory astronomy courses for non-majors.
Engineer
VLBI group
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
California Institute of Technology6/83 to 8/83Mark E. Cornell R'esum'e 3
Developed fitting software to permit precise astrometry via Very
Long Baseline Interferometry of the radio source SS433.
Programmer
Solar Astronomy
California Institute of Technology9/82 to 6/83
Wrote cross-correlation and filtering software for use with mi-
crowave observations obtained with the Owens Valley Radio Ob-
servatory solar interferometer.
Summer Undergraduate Research FellowCalifornia Institute of Technology6/82 to 9/82
Analyzed the arrival time differences between x-rays and mi-
crowaves produced in solar flares using data from the Owens
Valley Radio Observatory solar interferometer and the Hard X-
Ray Burst Spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission.
Photographic Laboratory TechnicianBig Bear Solar Observatory
California Institute of Technology3/82 to 6/82
Produced reprints of solar flare photographs taken in the Big Bear
solar flare patrol program.
Skills Scientific programming in FORTRAN, C, and Python. Hard-
ware and software system design. OSX, Linux, Solaris, and Win-
dows system administration. Computer hardware maintenance.
Network design and administration. Scripting languages. CCD
observations and image analysis at optical and IR wavelengths.
Experience in data reduction using a wide variety of image pro-
cessing packages, including IRAF, STSDAS, IDL, MIDAS, GASP,
and VISTA. Programming in the IRAF environment using the CL,
F77/VOS, IMFORT, and PyRAF interfaces. Maintenance and
manipulation of astronomical databases and archives. Telescope
and instrument control software. Technical management and soft-
ware design. Large telescope operations, data handling, queue
scheduling.
Bibliography
Contact this candidate