Reed D. Meyer: Research Experience

Research Experience

2005–present Software Engineer and Researcher, TripAdvisor LLC
From just experiments where revenue was directly measured, grew profit by more than $6.5 million per year.

2002–present Post-doctoral Fellow, Rochester Institute of Technology
Co-developed RITMOS, a micromirror-based multi-object spectrometer.
RITMOS is the first multi-object spectrometer in operation that employs a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) for target selection. Micromirror arrays have certain advantages over previous methods of target selection, namely fiber bundles and slit masks; micromirror arrays are particularly apt for surveys of stellar clusters, so RITMOS was optimized for high-resolution spectral classification of these astronomical objects. Personal contributions include software development, design specification development, astronomical and laboratory measurements, analysis of results, and dissemination to the scientific community. [Proceedings of SPIE paper: 2783 kB PDF]

2000–2001 Research Assistant, Rochester Institute of Technology
Co-designed and built RYTSI, the RIT–Yale Tip-tilt Speckle Imager.
RYTSI is the first instrument designed specifically for the measurement of binary star differential magnitudes via speckle interferometry. It has been used regularly at WIYN Observatory, Kitt Peak, Arizona, since the summer of 2001. It utilizes two scanning mirrors (a “tip-tilt” system) to lay down a sequence of images of a binary star onto a two-dimensional detector. Normally, atmospheric turbulence blurs most binary stars beyond resolvability, but each RYTSI image is brief enough to effectively “freeze” the atmosphere. Speckle interferometric reduction software then, in effect, combines these brief exposures into one high-resolution image of the binary. RYTSI enables accurate differential photometry because it is coupled with CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices), whose behavior is better understood than previous detectors used in speckle interferometry. Personal contributions to RYTSI include its overall design, mechanical design, electrical design, assembly, and software development. [PASP paper, in press; Slides from conference presentation: 1952 kB PDF; AAS conference poster abstract]

1994–2000 Research Assistant, Yale University
Measured binary star differential magnitudes.
This is the primary theme of the Ph.D. dissertation Binary Star Speckle Photometry and Astrophysical Implications. Observed hundreds of binary stars in various filters via speckle interferometry at WIYN Observatory and at El Leoncito, Argentina. Studied the errors in the photometry derived from these observations. Developed a statistically rigorous technique to extract the effective temperatures and absolute magnitudes of the individual components of binary stars, by incorporating all photometry available, from the Yale–RIT binary star collaboration as well as from other sources in the literature. Constructed a numerical simulation of a nonlinear detector used in many binary star observations. [Observations at WIYN: Astronomical Journal papers WIYN I, WIYN II, WIYN III, and WIYN IV; observations in Argentina: conference paper: 507 kB PDF; astrophysical parameter inference: Dissertation summary and a conference paper]
Upgraded the Double Astrograph at El Leoncito, Argentina.
Installed two science CCD cameras, focus monitors utilizing two additional CCD detectors, telescope temperature sensors, a weather station, and a network of control computers. Wrote driver software for the new instrumentation, particularly a Linux kernel module for the PixelVision science CCD. [Description of the instrumentation upgrade]
Investigated blazar TeV spectrum attenuation by the cosmic infrared background.
Examined X-ray observations of the globular cluster M22.

1990, 1992–1993 Undergraduate Research Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University
Compared neutron star model atmospheres with ROSAT X-ray fluxes.
Constructed a mesh of predicted X-ray spectra, for various physical parameters, using a neutron star atmosphere simulation developed by George Pavlov and collaborators. Developed software that performed nonlinear, six-dimensional fits of the model spectra to ROSAT observations of several isolated neutron stars. [Astrophysical Journal paper]
Rewrote control software and built a mirror cover for the 62'' telescope at Black Moshannon Observatory.

Fields of Expertise

Scientific Programming. Extensive programming in C/C++, FORTRAN, and IDL, under Linux (UNIX) and Windows environments.

nonlinear, multivariable function optimization
statistical analysis, including model fitting
Monte Carlo simulations
astronomical instrumentation (instrument device drivers; graphical user interfaces; telescope pointing; instrumental performance modeling)
astronomical data analysis (photometry; binary star orbits; autocorrelations)

Observational Astronomy.

instrumentation development
binary stars
speckle interferometry
fundamental stellar properties

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2005–present	Software Engineer and Researcher, TripAdvisor LLC From just experiments where revenue was directly measured, grew profit by more than $6.5 million per year.
2002–present	Post-doctoral Fellow, Rochester Institute of Technology Co-developed RITMOS, a micromirror-based multi-object spectrometer. RITMOS is the first multi-object spectrometer in operation that employs a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) for target selection. Micromirror arrays have certain advantages over previous methods of target selection, namely fiber bundles and slit masks; micromirror arrays are particularly apt for surveys of stellar clusters, so RITMOS was optimized for high-resolution spectral classification of these astronomical objects. Personal contributions include software development, design specification development, astronomical and laboratory measurements, analysis of results, and dissemination to the scientific community. [Proceedings of SPIE paper: 2783 kB PDF]
2000–2001	Research Assistant, Rochester Institute of Technology Co-designed and built RYTSI, the RIT–Yale Tip-tilt Speckle Imager. RYTSI is the first instrument designed specifically for the measurement of binary star differential magnitudes via speckle interferometry. It has been used regularly at WIYN Observatory, Kitt Peak, Arizona, since the summer of 2001. It utilizes two scanning mirrors (a “tip-tilt” system) to lay down a sequence of images of a binary star onto a two-dimensional detector. Normally, atmospheric turbulence blurs most binary stars beyond resolvability, but each RYTSI image is brief enough to effectively “freeze” the atmosphere. Speckle interferometric reduction software then, in effect, combines these brief exposures into one high-resolution image of the binary. RYTSI enables accurate differential photometry because it is coupled with CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices), whose behavior is better understood than previous detectors used in speckle interferometry. Personal contributions to RYTSI include its overall design, mechanical design, electrical design, assembly, and software development. [PASP paper, in press; Slides from conference presentation: 1952 kB PDF; AAS conference poster abstract]
1994–2000	Research Assistant, Yale University Measured binary star differential magnitudes. This is the primary theme of the Ph.D. dissertation Binary Star Speckle Photometry and Astrophysical Implications. Observed hundreds of binary stars in various filters via speckle interferometry at WIYN Observatory and at El Leoncito, Argentina. Studied the errors in the photometry derived from these observations. Developed a statistically rigorous technique to extract the effective temperatures and absolute magnitudes of the individual components of binary stars, by incorporating all photometry available, from the Yale–RIT binary star collaboration as well as from other sources in the literature. Constructed a numerical simulation of a nonlinear detector used in many binary star observations. [Observations at WIYN: Astronomical Journal papers WIYN I, WIYN II, WIYN III, and WIYN IV; observations in Argentina: conference paper: 507 kB PDF; astrophysical parameter inference: Dissertation summary and a conference paper] Upgraded the Double Astrograph at El Leoncito, Argentina. Installed two science CCD cameras, focus monitors utilizing two additional CCD detectors, telescope temperature sensors, a weather station, and a network of control computers. Wrote driver software for the new instrumentation, particularly a Linux kernel module for the PixelVision science CCD. [Description of the instrumentation upgrade] Investigated blazar TeV spectrum attenuation by the cosmic infrared background. Examined X-ray observations of the globular cluster M22.
1990, 1992–1993	Undergraduate Research Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University Compared neutron star model atmospheres with ROSAT X-ray fluxes. Constructed a mesh of predicted X-ray spectra, for various physical parameters, using a neutron star atmosphere simulation developed by George Pavlov and collaborators. Developed software that performed nonlinear, six-dimensional fits of the model spectra to ROSAT observations of several isolated neutron stars. [Astrophysical Journal paper] Rewrote control software and built a mirror cover for the 62'' telescope at Black Moshannon Observatory.