Download a PDF copy of my CV.
Waqas A. Bhatti
waqas.afzal.bhatti@gmail.com
Education
- PhD Astrophysics (2012)
- Department of Physics &
Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University
Thesis Advisor: Prof. Holland C. Ford
Testing Low-mass Stellar Models with M-dwarf Eclipsing Binaries from SDSS Stripe 82 - BS Physics (2005)
- University of California, Los Angeles
Interests and Recent Work
- Data extraction, analysis, and archiving infrastructure for astronomical surveys
- Time domain astronomy
- Stellar populations in the Galaxy
- Pulsating variables (RR Lyrae, Delta Scuti, etc.)
- Eclipsing binaries
- Low mass stars (M dwarfs, brown dwarfs)
Employment
Associate Research Scholar (Sep 2015–Aug 2019)
Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
- Developing astrobase, a Python package to analyze large collections of time-series photometry for astronomical objects, to carry out feature extraction and periodicity analysis, filter and browse interesting objects interactively, and search for and characterize stellar variability.
- Developing the HAT Data Server, a portal for all publicly released HAT light curve data; this will include browser-based interactive tools to search, filter and analyze these data, as well as comprehensive API access
- Developing the photometry pipeline, server infrastructure, and testing prototype instrument components for the upcoming HATPI survey
- Manage the HAT data processing server infrastructure, including: hardware purchasing and maintenance, photometry pipeline upgrades, network improvements, monitoring, and backups
Postdoctoral Research Associate (Sep 2012–Aug 2015)
Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
- Developed and maintain websites for the HATNet and HATSouth surveys, including curating discovery and follow-up data made publicly available for exoplanets found by these two surveys
- Reductions to light curves for HATNet transiting exoplanet candidate follow-up photometry from the FLWO 1.2-m telescope and KeplerCam
- Developed and maintain HAT remotecontrol—a real-time monitoring and control interface for HATNet and HATsouth telescopes
Graduate Research Assistant (2006–2012)
Department of Physics & Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University
- As Part 2 of PhD thesis, led project to identify M dwarf eclipsing binaries in SDSS Stripe 82 and characterize their discrepancies with predictions from stellar models
- As Part 1 of PhD thesis, led project to improve upon SDSS Stripe 82 photometric precision, then detect and classify variables and periodic variables from these sparsely sampled time-series data
Graduate Teaching Assistant (2005–2006)
Department of Physics & Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University
- Taught discussion sections for 171.101 (General Physics for Physical Science Majors I—Fall 2005) and 171.102 (General Physics for Physical Science Majors II—Spring 2006)
- Led laboratory sessions for 173.111 (Lab for General Physics for Physical Science Majors I—Fall 2005) and 173.112 (Lab for General Physics for Physical Science Majors II—Spring 2006)
- Tutored undergraduate students for General Physics courses 171.101 and 171.102 (for physical science majors), 171.103 and 171.104 (for biological science majors)
Qualifications and Technical Skills
- Astronomy—IDL, IRAF, photometric and spectroscopic reduction pipelines
- Programming (Python)—scientific (NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, astropy, scikit-learn, Cython), web (Tornado, Django), databases (SQLAlchemy, psycopg2, cassandra-driver), and distributed systems (ZeroMQ via pyzmq, RabbitMQ via pika and celery)
- Programming (other)—basic C and C++
- Databases—general SQL, SQLite3, PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB (& Galera Cluster), Cassandra
- Web—HTML, Javascript, CSS, basic web design & frameworks (Foundation, Bootstrap)
- Other—shell scripting, Linux system administration (server hardware, config management with Ansible, networks)
Professional Service
- Peer reviewer for the 2018-2XRP NASA Exoplanet Research Program (2019)
- Peer reviewer for the American Astronomical Society's Astronomical Journal (2016–2017)
- Peer reviewer for the NASA Kepler K2 Mission Guest Observer Program Cycle 1 (2014)
- Undergraduate research advisor (Princeton Planets and Life Certificate Program—Spring 2015)
- Developer and maintainer of the Princeton Astro-coffee website for arXiv article discussion with voting (2014–)
- Exhibit presenter and volunteer, Princeton University Science and Engineering EXPO (2013)
- Exhibit presenter and volunteer, Johns Hopkins University Science Fair (2006–2010)
Publications
See the articles section for a detailed list. Alternatively, see more up-to-date lists at NASA's Astrophysical Data System (ADS) or the arXiv.
