About Me
I am an astronomer and an engineer with 10+years of experience in terabyte data manipulation technologies, cloud computing, pipeline design, machine learning, as well as more than 5 years as a project manager in astronomy. I am part of the Astronomy Data Science Department at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. I regularly contribute to many data modeling and probabilistic inference in computer science projects, organic components studies, particle detector calibration, and space weather applications. My personal research focuses primarily on where stars form in galaxies linking them to the cosmological context through their chemical patterns and dynamical properties.
Interested in astronomy and data analysis puzzles
Technical expertise
- Python, C++, Java, Javascript, CSS
- MySQL, PostgreSQL, ADQL
- VSCode, IntelliJ Idea, Eclipse, Maven, SVN, git
- HPC, Cloud Computing, AWS, XSEDE
Interests
- Statistics, Machine learning, and data mining
- Terabyte dataset manipulation and scaling up solutions
- Collaborative software development
- Star formation and evolution
- Interstellar medium & dust
- Career Training & Development
Gaia Data Release 3
achivement of five years of intense work through adversity.
Last updated on 2022-06-13 · 4min read · Gaia
Updating my website, blogging perspective
New year, new role, new resolutions. I am planning to write a bit more and I need a good setup.
Last updated on 2022-05-17 · 2min read · Setup, Website
Estimating an article's reading time in python
Offering reading time estimation can contribute greatly to the end users' experience. I use it on my website and here is how I implemented it.
Last updated on 2022-05-17 · 2min read · python, code, Website
Empirical flux calibration of Coronagraph observations
A problem that requires flux calibration of low spectral resolution time series data.
Last updated on 2022-04-11 · 1min read · data-driven, modeling
MPIA Arxiv Display
I spent a significant amount of time to update the way we show ArXiv papers at the institute. I decided to completely outsource the process to GitHub using the GitHub Actions.
Last updated on 2022-04-07 · 1min read · data-driven, astrophysical parameters
Featured Projects & Research
A small selection of current projects and research.
- All
- Code
- Gaia
Resume
Experience
2021 - Present
Astrophysicist | Senior Data Scientist
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany
- Building the data science department at MPIA
- Supports MPIA scientists to carry out novel, cutting-edge research
- Solidify foundational hacking & coding skills
- Provide a space to explore and develop data science skills
- Networking, outside presence and broader impact
- Tenure position
C++, Python, Java, IntelliJ Idea, Eclipse, HPC, Machine Learning, project management, databases
2014 - 2021
Postdoc | Gaia & 4MOST unit manager
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany
- Leading validation of astrophysical parameter in the Gaia consortium (Coordination Unit 8).
- Consulting on the Gaia classification and spectral analysis development – DSC & GSP-Phot sofware.
- Leading the spectral classification unit and pipeline for the 4MOST observations.
- Initiating and developing the 4MOST classificaiton pipeline - 4CP.
Python, Java, C++, IntelliJ Idea, Eclipse, HPC, Machine Learning, project management, databases
2011 - 2014
Postdoc | Semi-resolved populations in galaxies
University of Washington, WA, USA
- Coordinating development of new inference methods for star and cluster formation histories.
- Consulting on probabilistic analysis of stellar populations, initial mass function & extinction.
- Leading the spectral classification unit and pipeline for the 4MOST observations.
- Leading computing resources transitions to national cluster (XSEDE) and Amazon Cloud.
- Co-leading the developement of the Bayesian Extinction and Stellar Tool - BEAST.
- Leading the development of the photometric tool PyPhot.
- Consulting on "the Andromeda Project" Zooniverse platform - andromeda-project.
Python, C++, Database, SQL, HPC, Cloud Computing, Citizen Science, Probabilistic Modeling
Education
2010
PhD in Astrophysics
University of Strasbourg, France
"Study of stellar cluster populations in galaxies, a Bayesian approach" manuscript
Python, Probabilistic Modeling, Forward modeling
2007
Master degree in Astrophysics
University of Strasbourg, France
Master project with Matthew Ashby and Joseph Hora at CfA - Harvard Smithonian on temporal analysis in the Spitzer's "IRAC calibration field" (IRACCF)".
Databases, Time series, Python, Probabilistic Modeling, Forward modeling, compact objects, high energy, galactic evolution
2007
Engineer degree in Fundamental physics, simulations & signal processing
Télécom Physique Strasbourg, France
Fundamental physics, Signal processing, Parallel computing, ddatabases, Engineering, Simulations
Participations in Inter-Disciplinary Collaborations
2013 - 2015
Consulting Scientist | Calibration of the gamma ray detector AGATA
GSI, Germany
Ph.D project of Damian Ralet at the Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research
- probabilistic calibration model of AGATA - Ralet, Fouesneau et al. 2015
Python, Probabilistic Modeling, Machine Learning, Instrument Calibration, Nuclear Physics, High Energy
2013 - 2014
Consulting Scientist | Machine learning to detect artifacts in astronomical images
Computer Science dept., University of Washington, WA, USA
Master project of Martina Unutzer & prof. Magdalena Balazinska
- Random forest classifier for detecting cosmic rays in astronomical images - Unutzer, Fouesneau et al. 2014
Computer Science, Image segmentation, Machine learning, Distributed databases, Dashboard
2010 - 2014
Consulting Scientist | Organic solar cells & Carbon Nanotube Networks
Ingineer, Informatics & Imaging laboratory (ICube), France
Collaboration with Dr. Yann Leroy
- Stochastic model of physical parameters of organic solar cells - Raba et al. 2017
- Probabilistic percolation modeling in Carbon Nanotube Networks - Heitz et al. 2011
Python, Java, Comsol, Stochastic model, Monte-Carlo methods, probabilistic inference
2006 - 2009
Consulting Engineer Scientist | Solar Weather Research
LESIA & International Space University, France
Collaboration with Dr. Isabelle Scholl from ISU & Dr. Jean Aboudarham at LESIA
- Automated detection and tracking of solar activity structures - Aboudarham et al. 2008
Solar weather, feature tracking, Neural Networks, Probabilistic Inference, temporal analysis, IDL
Recent Publications
ADS Search
Arxiv Search
| h-index: 56 | |
|---|---|
| 95 | refereed publications |
| 50 | publications from large collaborations |
| 26 | other publications |
| 7,698 | citations (from non-collaboration papers) |
View all publications
Showing 5 most recent non-collaboration articles from ADS
2024
- "The realm of Aurora. Density distribution of metal-poor giants in the heart of the Galaxy"
Kurbatov, E. P., Belokurov, V., Koposov, S., Kravtsov, A., Davies, E. Y., Brown, A. G. A., Cantat-Gaudin, T., Castro-Ginard, A., Casey, A. R., Drimmel, R., Fouesneau, M., Khanna, S., Rix, H.-W., Wallace, A., 2024, arXiv e-prints, - [2 citations]
2024arXiv241022250K - "GaiaUnlimited: The old stellar disc of the Milky Way as traced by the Red Clump"
Khanna, S., Yu, J., Drimmel, R., Poggio, E., Cantat-Gaudin, T., Castro-Ginard, A., Kurbatov, E., Belokurov, V., Brown, A., Fouesneau, M., Casey, A., Rix, H.-W., 2024, arXiv e-prints, - [2 citations]
2024arXiv241022036K - "The Local Ultraviolet to Infrared Treasury I. Survey Overview of the Broadband Imaging"
Gilbert, K. M., Choi, Y., Boyer, M. L., Williams, B. F., Weisz, D. R., Bell, E. F., Dalcanton, J. J., McQuinn, K. B. W., Skillman, E. D., Costa, G., Fouesneau, M., Girardi, L., Goldman, S. R., Gordon, K. D., Guhathakurta, P., Gull, M., Hagen, L., Huynh, K., Lindberg, C. W., Marigo, P., Murray, C. E., Pastorelli, G., Yanchulova Merica-Jones, P., 2024, arXiv e-prints, - [0 citations]
2024arXiv241020454G - "What is the Role of Large Language Models in the Evolution of Astronomy Research?"
Fouesneau, M., Momcheva, I. G., Chadayammuri, U., Demianenko, M., Dumont, A., Hviding, R. E., Kahle, K. A., Pulatova, N., Rajpoot, B., Scheuck, M. B., Seeburger, R., Semenov, D., Villaseñor, J. I., 2024, arXiv e-prints, - [0 citations]
2024arXiv240920252F - "The Pristine Survey -- XXVII. Journey to the Galactic outskirts -- Mapping the outer halo red giant stars down to the very metal-poor end"
Viswanathan, A., Byström, A., Starkenburg, E., Foppen, A., Straat, J., Montelius, M., Sestito, F., Venn, K. A., Navarrete, C., Matsuno, T., Martin, N. F., Thomas, G. F., Ardern-Arentsen, A., Battaglia, G., Fouesneau, M., Navarro, J., Vitali, S., 2024, arXiv e-prints, - [1 citations]
2024arXiv240817250V