Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Michael David Himes

(NASA POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM FELL)

 michael.d.himes@nasa.gov

Org Code: 614

NASA/GSFC
Mail Code: 614
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Employer: NPP POST-DOC CONTRACT

Brief Bio


Michael D. Himes is a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow working with Dr. Natalya A. Kramarova on machine learning applications to measurements by the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite's Limb Profiler instrument.


As part of their dissertation work at the University of Central Florida, Himes developed open-source software packages centered around training and applying neural network surrogate models, Bayesian inference frameworks, and exoplanet atmospheric retrieval.

Positions/Employment


NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow

NASA Postdoctoral Program - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

September 2022 - Present

Applying machine learning methods to the analysis of measurements by the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite's Limb Profiler instrument.


Doctor of Philosophy

University of Central Florida - Orlando, FL, USA

September 2017 - September 2022

Designed tests for radiative-transfer codes. Modeled the dayside atmosphere of WASP-12b. Simulated the Proxima Centauri system. Developed software packages to train neural network surrogate models and use them in Bayesian inferences. Explored applications of machine learning to atmospheric retrieval algorithms. Compared Bayesian inference frameworks used in exoplanetary atmospheric retrieval.


Undergraduate/Postbactoral Researcher

University of Central Florida - Orlando, FL, USA

February 2016 - September 2017

Investigated Spitzer Infrared Array Camera properties and systematics. Examined applications of GPU-accelerated computing to radiative-transfer codes.

Awards


NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellowship Recipient

2022.


NASA Fellowship Activity Recipient

2020.


Doctoral Research Support Award

University of Central Florida. 2019.


University Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant

University of Central Florida Graduate Council. 2019.


Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant

University of Central Florida College of Sciences. 2019.


Graduate Teaching Award

University of Central Florida Department of Physics. 2018, 2019.


ORC Fellowship

University of Central Florida. 2017.

Teaching Experience


(Advanced) Astronomical Data Analysis

University of Central Florida. Graduate teaching assistant for junior/senior undergraduate and first-year graduate students in 2018 and 2019.


Introduction to Numerical Computing

University of Central Florida. Graduate teaching assistant for undergraduate students in 2019.

Education


Doctor of Philosophy

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA. Atmospheric retrieval: Bayesian methods, machine learning, and application to exoplanets.


Bachelor of Science

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.

Publications


Refereed

Edwards, B., Q. Changeat, A. Tsiaras, et al. A. Allan, P. Behr, S. R. Hagey, M. D. Himes, S. Ma, K. G. Stassun, L. Thomas, A. Thompson, A. Boley, L. Booth, J. Bouwman, K. France, N. Lowson, A. Meech, C. L. Phillips, A. A. Vidotto, K. H. Yip, M. Bieger, A. Gressier, E. Janin, I.-G. Jiang, P. Leonardi, S. Sarkar, N. Skaf, J. Taylor, M. Yang, and D. Ward-Thompson. 2023. Characterizing a World Within the Hot-Neptune Desert: Transit Observations of LTT 9779 b with the Hubble Space Telescope/WFC3 The Astronomical Journal 166 (4): 158 [10.3847/1538-3881/acea77]

Latouf, N., A. M. Mandell, G. L. Villanueva, et al. M. D. Moore, N. Susemiehl, V. Kofman, and M. D. Himes. 2023. Bayesian Analysis for Remote Biosignature Identification on exoEarths (BARBIE). I. Using Grid-based Nested Sampling in Coronagraphy Observation Simulations for H<sub>2</sub>O The Astronomical Journal 166 (3): 129 [10.3847/1538-3881/acebc3]

Susemiehl, N., A. M. Mandell, G. L. Villanueva, et al. G. Liuzzi, M. Moore, T. Baines, M. D. Himes, and A. J. W. Smith. 2023. Grid-based Atmospheric Retrievals for Reflected-light Spectra of Exoplanets Using PSGnest The Astronomical Journal 166 (3): 86 [10.3847/1538-3881/ace43b]

Poduval, B., R. L. McPherron, R. Walker, et al. M. D. Himes, K. M. Pitman, A. R. Azari, C. Shneider, A. K. Tiwari, S. Kapali, G. Bruno, M. K. Georgoulis, O. Verkhoglyadova, J. E. Borovsky, G. Lapenta, J. Liu, T. Alberti, P. Wintoft, and S. Wing. 2023. AI-ready data in space science and solar physics: problems, mitigation and action plan Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 10 [10.3389/fspas.2023.1203598]

Himes, M. D., J. Harrington, and A. G. Baydin. 2023. Toward 3D Retrieval of Exoplanet Atmospheres: Assessing Thermochemical Equilibrium Estimation Methods The Planetary Science Journal 4 (4): 74 [10.3847/psj/acc939]

Himes, M. D., and J. Harrington. 2022. On the Dayside Atmosphere of WASP-12b The Astrophysical Journal 931 (2): 86 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac1e9f]

Himes, M. D., J. Harrington, A. D. Cobb, et al. A. Güneş Baydin, F. Soboczenski, M. D. O’Beirne, S. Zorzan, D. C. Wright, Z. Scheffer, S. D. Domagal-Goldman, and G. N. Arney. 2022. Accurate Machine-learning Atmospheric Retrieval via a Neural-network Surrogate Model for Radiative Transfer The Planetary Science Journal 3 (4): 91 [10.3847/psj/abe3fd]

Blecic, J., J. Harrington, P. E. Cubillos, et al. M. Oliver Bowman, P. M. Rojo, M. Stemm, R. C. Challener, M. D. Himes, A. J. Foster, I. Dobbs-Dixon, A. S. Foster, N. B. Lust, S. D. Blumenthal, D. Bruce, and T. J. Loredo. 2022. An Open-source Bayesian Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (BART) Code. III. Initialization, Atmospheric Profile Generator, Post-processing Routines The Planetary Science Journal 3 (4): 82 [10.3847/psj/ac3515]

Cubillos, P. E., J. Harrington, J. Blecic, et al. M. D. Himes, P. M. Rojo, T. J. Loredo, N. B. Lust, R. C. Challener, A. J. Foster, M. M. Stemm, A. S. Foster, and S. D. Blumenthal. 2022. An Open-source Bayesian Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (BART) Code. II. The Transit Radiative Transfer Module and Retrieval of HAT-P-11b The Planetary Science Journal 3 (4): 81 [10.3847/psj/ac348b]

Harrington, J., M. D. Himes, P. E. Cubillos, et al. J. Blecic, P. M. Rojo, R. C. Challener, N. B. Lust, M. O. Bowman, S. D. Blumenthal, I. Dobbs-Dixon, A. S. Foster, A. J. Foster, M. R. Green, T. J. Loredo, K. J. McIntyre, M. M. Stemm, and D. C. Wright. 2022. An Open-source Bayesian Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (BART) Code. I. Design, Tests, and Application to Exoplanet HD 189733b The Planetary Science Journal 3 (4): 80 [10.3847/psj/ac3513]

Azari, A., J. B. Biersteker, R. M. Dewey, et al. G. Doran, E. J. Forsberg, C. D. Harris, H. R. Kerner, K. A. Skinner, A. W. Smith, R. Amini, S. Cambioni, V. D. Poian, T. M. Garton, M. D. Himes, S. Millholland, and S. Ruhunusiri. 2021. Integrating Machine Learning for Planetary Science: Perspectives for the Next Decade Vol. 53, Issue 4 (Planetary/Astrobiology Decadal Survey Whitepapers) 53 (4): [10.3847/25c2cfeb.aa328727]

Challener, R. C., J. Harrington, J. Jenkins, et al. N. T. Kurtovic, R. Ramirez, K. J. McIntyre, M. D. Himes, E. Rodríguez, G. Anglada-Escudé, S. Dreizler, A. Ofir, P. A. Peña Rojas, I. Ribas, P. Rojo, D. Kipping, R. P. Butler, P. J. Amado, C. Rodríguez-López, E. Palle, and F. Murgas. 2021. Identification and Mitigation of a Vibrational Telescope Systematic with Application to Spitzer The Planetary Science Journal 2 (1): 9 [10.3847/psj/abc954]

Cobb, A. D., M. D. Himes, F. Soboczenski, et al. S. Zorzan, M. D. O’Beirne, A. Güneş Baydin, Y. Gal, S. D. Domagal-Goldman, G. N. Arney, and D. Angerhausen. 2019. An Ensemble of Bayesian Neural Networks for Exoplanetary Atmospheric Retrieval The Astronomical Journal 158 (1): 33 [10.3847/1538-3881/ab2390]

Jenkins, J. S., J. Harrington, R. C. Challener, et al. N. T. Kurtovic, R. Ramirez, J. Peña, K. J. McIntyre, M. D. Himes, E. Rodríguez, G. Anglada-Escudé, S. Dreizler, A. Ofir, P. A. Peña Rojas, I. Ribas, P. Rojo, D. Kipping, R. P. Butler, P. J. Amado, C. Rodríguez-López, E. M. Kempton, E. Palle, and F. Murgas. 2019. Proxima Centauri b is not a transiting exoplanet Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 487 (1): 268-274 [10.1093/mnras/stz1268]

Professional Service


Anonymous Reviewer

Astrophysical Journal, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Atmospheric Measurement Techniques