Neil T. Zimmerman Postdoctoral Research Associate Jan 2014 { Present High Contrast Imaging Laboratory Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Princeton University Princeton, NJ
[email protected] http://neilzim.net Professional Experience Postdoctoral Fellow Oct 2011 { Dec 2013 Max Planck Institute for Astronomy Heidelberg, Germany Education Ph.D., Astronomy Oct 2011 Columbia University New York, NY M.Phil., Astronomy May 2008 Columbia University New York, NY M.E., Electrical Engineering May 2006 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art New York, NY B.E., Electrical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude May 2004 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art New York, NY Postdoctoral Research • Designed a new coronagraph for WFIRST-AFTA optimized for broadband IFS spectroscopy of gas giants. • Developed a low-order wavefront sensor concept applicable to very high-contrast coronagraphy. • Measured the infrared spectral energy distribution of the directly-imaged Jovian analog GJ 504 b. • Made a data pipeline for LEECH, a thermal infrared exoplanet imaging survey at LBT, and delivered the first sensitivity verifications to the collaboration. • Revised the science case for ESPRI, an astrometric exoplanet survey with the VLT Interferometer. • Calibrated a bimorph deformable mirror for the wavefront sensor testbed of the ESO's GRAVITY instru- ment. Ph.D. Thesis: High-Contrast Observations with an Integral Field Spectrograph • Confirmed the physical association of Alcor's M-dwarf companion through a novel relative astrometry technique. • Designed and implemented the data extraction and calibration software for Project 1640, a coronagraphic integral field spectrograph. • Carried out the first combined aperture mask + integral field spectrograph observation.