kempner.net

Résumé

View Joshua Kempner's profile on LinkedIn

See also my list of publications (PDF).

References available upon request

Skills

Physical Scientist & Software Engineer
Data visualization, mathematical/physical modeling, hyperspectral & image analysis, statistical analysis, algorithm design and implementation.
Algorithm/software development in C, C++ with STL, Matlab, IDL, Perl, Python, S-Lang, and UNIX shell scripting; various SCM packages.
Development of parallelized computational tools using PVM on Linux, Solaris and OS X; OpenMP on Windows.
SQL database design and presentation using PHP 4 & 5, XHTML/CSS and Apache.
Project Leader
Principal Investigator on multiple NASA grants.
Successful grant writer with over $500,000 in approved grants and over 200 hours of approved observing time at national observatories from 2000–2006.
Supervise and coordinate student research in projects involving collaborators at other institutions.
Educator
Teach wide variety of courses in physics and astronomy to major and non-major audiences from introductory to advanced levels.
Lead undergraduate senior honors and independent study research projects in astrophysics.
Present at conferences and publish in well-regarded peer-reviewed astrophysics journals.
Develop online course content.

Experience

Senior Imaging Scientist
VisEn Medical, Woburn, MA, 2006–present
Develop and implement algorithms for fluorescent molecular tomography (FMT) system. Particiapte in design and production of next-generation FMT imaging systems. Support and enhance existing systems. Manage commercial software development team.
Data Analysis Software Consultant
2006–present
Develop software for 3D data manipulation and analysis of data in the developmental biology domain. Create C++ libraries and applications to work with large SQL data sets to rectify, normalize, and model 3D data of mouse cerebella for comparison across developmental milestones.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME, 2004–2006
Teach two courses per semester, some with laboratory components, and carry out a program of original research on the formation and evolution of large scale structure in the universe. Develop curricula from syllabus to final exam, design and supervise laboratory exercises. Supervise undergraduate senior research projects and summer student research.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA, 2002–2004
Research fellowship for studying the formation and evolution of clusters of galaxies using astronomical observations. Responsibilities included experiment design, data analysis, grant writing, paper publication, presentation at conferences, and software development. Obtained $83,000 in NASA research support.
Webmaster
Univ. of Virginia Astronomy Department, Charlottesville, VA, 1997–2002
Developed and maintained all aspects of department web site including graphics. Developed database-driven calendars for departmental events and for scheduling of two observatories, with online management tools using authentication. Created web site for department-run conference, including automated registration, on-the-fly PDF generation, web-based scheduling, and publication of proceedings.
Astronomy Lecturer and Teaching Assistant Supervisor
Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 1998–1999
Lectured astronomy undergraduate courses. Developed upper level course from syllabus to final exam. In charge of course development, budget, and resource and personnel management of 10+ teaching assistants. Developed training program for graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants and graders. Created formal catalog of and versioning system for course and laboratory materials.

Education

Ph.D. Astronomy, University of Virginia, 2002
Thesis: Thermal and Nonthermal Effects in Merging Clusters of Galaxies
M.A. Astronomy, University of Virginia, 1998
Thesis: An Analysis of the Si IV Spectra of U Sge
B.A. Physics with honors, Oberlin College, 1997
Thesis: High Time Resolution Studies of the Pulsar PSR J0437-4715

Honors and Awards

Junior Fellow, University of Virginia Society of Fellows, 2001–2002
University of Virginia DuPont Graduate Fellowship, 1999–2002
Lawrence W. Fredrick outstanding teaching assistant award, University of Virginia Department of Astronomy, 1998
Graduated with honors from Oberlin College, 1997
Elected to associate membership in Sigma Xi, 1997