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MIT Room NE80-6025 77 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge MA 02139-4307 |
Phone: (617) 258-7324 email: kaf @ space.mit.edu |
| Principal Research Scientist | 1/05 - present |
| RGS Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, Constellation-X | 7/03 - 11/05 |
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Directs technology
development for the Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) of the
Constellation-X mission. The IPT Lead manages the ``Integrated Product
Team'', a collection of research groups from multiple institutions
involved in developing new technology for reflection gratings and
X-ray CCDs. Duties include development of technology roadmap and
schedules, as well as managing, coordinating or communicating with
groups at MIT, University of Colorado, Smithsonian Astrophysical
Observatory, Goddard Space Flight Center and Columbia
University. Specific duties include conducting a ``trade study''
between alternative grating designs, and working with the Con-X
Project on RGS issues such as design, alignment, testing, new
configurations, error budgets and other factors that impact mission
performance and mission-level systems engineering. Led a raytrace
modeling effort and synchrotoron studies in support of the grating assessment.
Reconciled and documented apparent discrepancies between two models
of off-plane grating performance. Derived and documented a grating spectrometer design
and performance estimates for potential collaborative mission.
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| Research Scientist, HETG | 2/95 - present |
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Instrument team member of the High Energy Transmission
Grating (HETG) Spectrometer, a high-resolution spectroscopic
instrument of Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Past duties have included
oversight analysis of Chandra data and management of supernova remnant
group for instrument (GTO) observations. Other duties have included
design of tests to satisfy instrument verification and calibration,
analysis and interpretation of test data, synchrotron testing of
grating facets and materials leading to revision of optical constants,
and detailed modeling of gratings.
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| Director of Education and Public Outreach, Center for Space Research | 9/99 - present |
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Responsible for development and coordination of education and public outreach programs involving MIT's Center for Space Research.
On a yearly basis, this program places over 500 students and teachers
in direct contact with CSR scientists, and reaches out to over 800 members
of the interested public. Participation in museum exhibits such as
Cosmic Questions and nationally televised video presentations such as Live from the
Edge of Space and Time represent indirect outreach to an audience estimated at several million. A large fraction of
CSR staff contribute to an active program of teachers' workshops, summer lecture series, mentoring opportunities and after-school development programs. The EPO office also assists scientists in formulating and carrying out EPO proposals, with a very high success rate.
This office has a well-earned reputation for its pioneering after-school program serving Boston's minority school
population, using astronomy as a teaching tool.
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| Research Scientist, HRC | 11/91 - 2/95 |
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Calibration and science development of High Resolution Camera (HRC),
a microchannel plate detector and focal plane instrument of the Chandra
X-Ray Observatory. Responsibilities included planning, scheduling and carrying
out calibrations; design and implementation of a long-term test for stability
of photocathodes in vacuum; modeling of HRC electronics; and design of a
monochromator employing a Chandra low energy grating.
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| X-Ray Detection System Scientist, Chandra Calibration | 5/90 - 11/91 |
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Designed X-ray equipment and associated test program for
calibration of Chandra mirrors. Involved in error budget formulation,
selection of instruments, verification testing and documentation.
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Ph.D., Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990. Thesis: Plasma Diagnostics with X-Ray Emission Lines of Puppis A.
M.S., Physics, New York University, 1984. Thesis: Kinematics of IC1396.
B.S., Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1976. Thesis: Investigations of a Seven Wire Imaging Proportional Counter. Flight instrument, Einstein Observatory.
Astronomical Community
Executive Committee, High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD) of the
American Astronomical Society (AAS) (2003 - present)
Constellation-X Facility Science Team member (2003 - 2005)
NASA Committees and Working Groups
Co-chair of NASA's Strategic Roadmap Committee for Universe Exploration (2005)
Co-chair of the Universe Division Roadmap Committee (2004 - 2005)
Deputy Chair of Astronomy and Physics Working Group (APWG)(2001 - 2004)
Universe Subcommittee (SEUS) (2005)
Structure and Evolution of the Universe Subcommittee (SEUS) (2001 - 2004)
Invited participant, NASA Office of Space Science Strategic Planning Workshop
Member of Roadmap Team, SEU Roadmap ``Beyond Einstein''
Chair of Research and Analysis Subgroup of SEU Roadmap Team
Deputy Chair of Astronomy and Physics Working Group (2001 - present)
UV/Optical Detectors Working Group (2000 - 2001); contibuted to detector roadmap
AXAF User's Committee (1993 - 1997)
Invited ``outside reviewer'' for FUSE and Spectrum-X-Gamma Critical Design Reviews
Peer reviewer X-ray astronomy Guest observer (GO) proposals
Peer reviewer for detector development proposals
Peer reviewer for mission (Explorer) proposals
Peer reviewer for Education and Public Outreach proposal
Named Co-I or collaborator in SMEX, MIDEX, Chandra GO, XMM GO, ROSS (Lab Astro) and NSF proposals
Conference Organizing
Scientific Organizing Committee, ``Beyond Einstein: From the Big Bang to Black Holes'', Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, May 12-14, 2004.
SPIE Conference Organizer and Proceedings Editor, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Missions and Instrumentation for Astronomy XIII, 2003.
SPIE Conference Organizer and Proceedings Editor, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Missions and Instrumentation for Astronomy XII, 2002.
SPIE Conference Organizer and Proceedings Editor, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Missions and Instrumentation for Astronomy XI, 2000.
SPIE Conference Organizer and Proceedings Editor, EUV, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Missions and Instrumentation for Astronomy X, 1999.
SPIE Program Committee and Session Chair, 1995 -- 2003
Science Organizing Committee, ``Two Years of Science with Chandra'', Washington, D.C., Sept 5-7, 2001.
Science Organizing Committee, ``From X-rays to Xband: Space Astrophysics Detectors and Detector Technologies'', Space Telescope Science Institute, June 26-29, 2000.
Selected Education and Public Outreach Related Activities
Math and Science Advisory Council, Massachusetts Department of Education (2002 - present)
Coalition Board of Project Astro, Boston site (1999 - present)
Teachers' Workshops - Cambridge Public Schools Workshop, Massachusetts DOE Summer Content Institute, Tufts Wright Center Workshop (2000, 2001)
Film participation - Live from a Black Hole, High Energy Vision, Live from the Edge of Space and Time
Cosmic Questions museum exhibit
Speaking engagements - American Association of Physics Teachers, Museum of Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Co-taught seminar 8.A12,"Doing Space Science" to freshman, Physics Dept, MIT (1997).
MIT thesis committee (reader), Adrian Ivan, ``Fabrication and Characterization of Multilayers for Focused Hard X-ray Optics'', completed Jan 2002.
Taught high school algebra, calculus and physics as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire (now Republic of Congo) (1976-1978). All instruction in French.
Taught college physics labs and recitations at New York University (1983-1984)
Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)
American Astronomical Society
MIT School of Science ``Infinite Mile'' Award for Achievement at the Center for Space Research
NASA Group Achievement Award: Chandra HETG
NASA Group Achievement Award: AXAF VETA Test Team
High resolution X-ray spectroscopy of Supernova Remnants
Development of Instrumentation for X-Ray Astronomy
``A High-Resolution X-Ray Spectrum of SNR E0102-72: X-Ray Astronomy from Your Armchair'', Joint Steward Observatory/NOAO/NRAO Colloquium, University of Arizona, Nov 2, 2003
``Grating Spectroscopy of Supernova Remnants with Chandra, XMM-Newton and Constellation-X,'' SNORE (Supernova Remnant Group), Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Jun 2, 2003
``High Resolution Spectroscopy of Supernova Remnants with Chandra, XMM-Newton and Constellation-X,'' Constellation-X Spectroscopy Workshop, Columbia University, May 6, 2003
``A High-Resolution X-Ray Spectrum of SNR E0102-72: X-Ray Astronomy from Your armchair,'' Joint Steward Observatory/NOAO/NRAO Colloquium Series, University of Arizona, Oct 2, 2003
``A View Through a Grating: SNR E0102-72 Revealed,'' MIT Science Lunch Talk, Sept 27, 2002
``Probing the Cosmic X-Ray Laboratory with the Chandra HETGS,'' SPIE Astronomy Meeting, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telscopes and Instruments for Astronomy, Waikaloa HI, Aug 24, 2002
``The Chandra X-Ray Observatory: A new look at the hot universe,'' MIT Seminar ``Modern Space Science and Engineering,'' May 8, 2002
``X-Ray Gratings,'' X-ray Astronomy School, Goddard Space Flight Center, Sept 11, 2001
``The Chandra X-Ray Observatory: A New Window on the X-Ray Universe,'' 123rd Meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Rochester NY, Jul 24, 2001
``The Chandra X-Ray Observatory: Twenty Years to Make a Point!'' Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Summer Colloquium series, Jun 21, 2001
``From Cambridge to the Universe and Back: A Journey with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory,'' Boston Museum of Science, Astronomy Day, Apr 28, 2001
``The Chandra X-Ray Observatory: A Look at its history, instruments and discoveries,'' MIT Seminar ``Modern Space Science and Engineering,'' Apr 11, 2001
``High Resolution Spectroscopy of Supernova Remnants with Chandra,'' 5th High Energy Astrophysics Division Meeting of American Astronomical Society, Honolulu, Nov 10, 2000
``The Shocking Story of E0102,'' High Energy Astrophysics Division Lunch Talk, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Oct 25, 2000
``Rainbow Rings: Chandra Looks at Supernova Remnants,'' Monthly Observatory Night, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Aug 17, 2000
``Chandra High Resolution Spectroscopy of the Supernova Remnant E0102-72,'' 24th IAU General Assembly, Manchester UK, Aug 12, 2000
``High Resolution Spectroscopy of the Supernova Remnant E0102-72,'' 196th meeting of the AAS, Rochester, NY, Jun 7, 2000
``High Resolution Spectroscopy of E0102-72 with Chandra,'' Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, Goddard Space Flight Center, May 23, 2000
``High Resolution Spectroscopy with the Chandra Observatory,'' Haystack Observatory, Mar 31, 2000
``High Resolution Spectroscopy with Chandra,'' 2000 Annual meeting of AAAS, Washington D.C., Feb 19, 2000
``The Chandra X-Ray Observatory,'' Lowell Lecture Series, Museum of Science, Boston, Feb 10, 2000
``A First Look at E0102-72 with the Chandra HETG,'' MIT Astrophysics Colloquium, Oct 12, 1999
Home | CV | Papers | Posters | Books | Astronomy | Instrumentation | News
Kathryn Flanagan, 2004
http://space.mit.edu/~kaf/cv_2003.html