Brief Bio
Giuseppe Cataldo is a Research Associate in residence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research interests lie in the design and optimization of space systems with applications for astronomy and astrophysics. He has contributed to a variety of projects such as:
- The noise reduction program for the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) detectors of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST),
- Design and optimization of Micro-Spec, an ultra-compact high-performance far-infrared spectrometer for the space infrared telescope for cosmology and astrophysics SPICA,
- Modeling of asymmetric resonator transmission data with complex baselines from non-ideal microwave resonant circuits applied to superconducting devices used for Micro-Spec,
- Software development and testing for the extraction of kinetic inductance parameters through the above-mentioned models,
- Development and testing of advanced numerical tools for the computation, analysis, and interpretation of the infrared dielectric properties of astrophysical dust analogs such as metal-rich silicate oxides (OPASI-T).
He first joined NASA in 2009 fully sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA) as one of the two European students selected for the NASA Academy, NASA's premiere leadership program for talented students. During the program, he was one of the select recipients of the John Mather Nobel Scholar Award.
Giuseppe pursues outreach presentations for young students, professionals, and the public at large in different countries. Indeed, he speaks five languages and focuses his efforts on public outreach and educational activities for the Embassy of Italy to the United States of America in Washington, DC.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing the violin and piano, swimming, hiking, skiing, reading, traveling, and hanging out with his friends.
Research Interests
High-precision optical instrumentation for space-borne telescopes
Space systems design and optimization
Infrared astronomy
Optical properties of interstellar dust in the general interstellar medium
Origin and evolution of dust in the early universe
Current Projects
Micro-X
Micro-X, the High-Resolution Microcalorimeter X-ray Imaging Rocket, is a sounding rocket space telescope being developed for NASA that will combine a transition-edge- sensor (TES) X-ray microcalorimeter array with a conical imaging mirror to obtain high- spectral-resolution images of extended and point X-ray sources.
Skolkovo Tech/MIT Collaboration
Mission concept study for a lunar far-side radio observatory optimized to observe the neutral hydrogen 21-cm emission from the intergalactic medium during the dark ages of cosmic structure formation and the early stages of cosmic reionization.
Positions/Employment
Education
PhD candidate in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA
Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering within the Top Industrial Managers for Europe (TIME) Program
Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace SUPAERO, Toulouse, France (November 2010)
Thesis title: Optical Properties of Astronomical Silicates with Infrared Techniques
Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering within the High Polytechnic School (ASP) Program
Polytechnic Institute of Turin, Italy (November 2010)
Thesis as above
Master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering
Polytechnic Institute of Milan, Italy (October 2010)
Thesis as above
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering
Polytechnic Institute of Milan, Italy (July 2007)
Thesis title: Experimental research on innovative solid fuels for hybrid propellers
Awards
2012 - "Arthur Gelb" Fellowship (MIT, USA)
2010 - "Mayoux Dauriac" Prize (ISAE-SUPAERO, France)
2010 - "Pegasus" Award (ISAE-SUPAERO and Polytechnic Institute of Milan)
2010 - ESA Research Grant
2009 - "John Mather Nobel Scholar" Award (NASA Academy, Goddard Space Flight Center)
2009 - "NASA Academy" Award (NASA/ESA)
2008 - "Top Industrial Managers for Europe" Award
2008 - "High Polytechnic School" Award
Professional Societies
Other Professional Information
Languages: English, Italian, French, Spanish, German
Publications
CATALDO G., J. A. BEALL, H. CHO, B. MCANDREW, M. D. NIEMACK, and E. J. WOLLACK. 2012. "Infrared dielectric properties of low-stress silicon nitride" . Optics Letters . 37 (20): 4200-4202. [10.1364/OL.37.004200]
RICHEY C. R., R. E. KINZER, G. CATALDO, E. J. WOLLACK, J. A. NUTH, D. J. BENFORD, R. F. SILVERBERG, and S. A. RINEHART. 2012. Optical Properties of Iron Silicates in the Infrared to Millimeter as a Function of Wavelength and Temperature. Astrophysical Journal. (Submitted)
RINEHART, S. A., D. J. BENFORD, G. CATALDO, E. DWEK, R. HENRY, R. E. KINZER, J. A. NUTH, R. F. SILVERBERG, C. WHEELER, and E. J. WOLLACK. 2011. "Measuring the Optical Properties of Astrophysical Dust Analogues: Instrumentation and Methods" . Applied Optics. 50 (21): 4115-4123.
CARRASCO-MARTOS S., G. CATALDO, L. CULLY, H. FINGERHUT, T. GARRETT, H. HUI, F. KEELS, E. LEE, V. MARTIN, K. MCCOY, Z. MERCERUIO, M. NEVEU, M. PILTZ, E. REIFF, L. SANDBERG, S. SHKOLYAR, E. TIMMONS, and A. WILLINGHAM. 2009. "The Odysseus Project: NASA's Vision for Reaching the Stars". NASA GSFC Report.
CATALDO G., A. ARAGONA, A. GREN, R. MAFFEI, and A. PARABOSCHI. 2009. "Space Hotel Design - Design for an orbiting space hotel". Alta Scuola Politecnica Report.
Brief Bio
Giuseppe Cataldo is a Research Associate in residence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research interests lie in the design and optimization of space systems with applications for astronomy and astrophysics. He has contributed to a variety of projects such as:
- The noise reduction program for the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) detectors of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST),
- Design and optimization of Micro-Spec, an ultra-compact high-performance far-infrared spectrometer for the space infrared telescope for cosmology and astrophysics SPICA,
- Modeling of asymmetric resonator transmission data with complex baselines from non-ideal microwave resonant circuits applied to superconducting devices used for Micro-Spec,
- Software development and testing for the extraction of kinetic inductance parameters through the above-mentioned models,
- Development and testing of advanced numerical tools for the computation, analysis, and interpretation of the infrared dielectric properties of astrophysical dust analogs such as metal-rich silicate oxides (OPASI-T).
He first joined NASA in 2009 fully sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA) as one of the two European students selected for the NASA Academy, NASA's premiere leadership program for talented students. During the program, he was one of the select recipients of the John Mather Nobel Scholar Award.
Giuseppe pursues outreach presentations for young students, professionals, and the public at large in different countries. Indeed, he speaks five languages and focuses his efforts on public outreach and educational activities for the Embassy of Italy to the United States of America in Washington, DC.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing the violin and piano, swimming, hiking, skiing, reading, traveling, and hanging out with his friends.
RICHEY C. R., R. E. KINZER, G. CATALDO, E. J. WOLLACK, J. A. NUTH, D. J. BENFORD, R. F. SILVERBERG, and S. A. RINEHART. 2012. Optical Properties of Iron Silicates in the Infrared to Millimeter as a Function of Wavelength and Temperature. Astrophysical Journal. (Submitted)
RINEHART, S. A., D. J. BENFORD, G. CATALDO, E. DWEK, R. HENRY, R. E. KINZER, J. A. NUTH, R. F. SILVERBERG, C. WHEELER, and E. J. WOLLACK. 2011. "Measuring the Optical Properties of Astrophysical Dust Analogues: Instrumentation and Methods" . Applied Optics. 50 (21): 4115-4123.
CARRASCO-MARTOS S., G. CATALDO, L. CULLY, H. FINGERHUT, T. GARRETT, H. HUI, F. KEELS, E. LEE, V. MARTIN, K. MCCOY, Z. MERCERUIO, M. NEVEU, M. PILTZ, E. REIFF, L. SANDBERG, S. SHKOLYAR, E. TIMMONS, and A. WILLINGHAM. 2009. "The Odysseus Project: NASA's Vision for Reaching the Stars". NASA GSFC Report.
CATALDO G., A. ARAGONA, A. GREN, R. MAFFEI, and A. PARABOSCHI. 2009. "Space Hotel Design - Design for an orbiting space hotel". Alta Scuola Politecnica Report.
