(NASA POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM FELL)
Org Code: 614
NASA/GSFCEmployer: NPP POST-DOC CONTRACT
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(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.
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.
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]
Anonymous Reviewer
Astrophysical Journal, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Atmospheric Measurement Techniques