NASA Logo in the header
Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Michael David Himes

(ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST)

Michael David Himes's Contact Card & Information.
Email: michael.d.himes@nasa.gov
Org Code: 614
Address:
NASA/GSFC
 Mail Code 614
 Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer: MORGAN STATE UNIV.

Brief Bio

Dr. Michael D. Himes is an Assistant Research Scientist working with Dr. Natalya A. Kramarova on machine learning applications to measurements by the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite's Limb Profiler (OMPS LP) instrument. Himes has developed a near-real-time retrieval algorithm for aerosol extinction from OMPS LP measurements.


As part of a dissertation 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

Assistant Research Scientist

Morgan State University - NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD

June 2024 - Present

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

NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow

NASA Postdoctoral Program - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

August 2022 - June 2024

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

August 2017 - August 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

January 2016 - August 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

2025. "Using neural networks for near-real-time aerosol retrievals from OMPS Limb Profiler measurements." Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 18 (11): 2523-2536 [10.5194/amt-18-2523-2025] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "Exploiting Machine Learning to Develop Ocean Color Retrievals from the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution Instrument." ESS Open Archive [10.22541/essoar.174326553.36262101/v1] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "A Machine Learning–ready Data Set for Exoplanet Atmospheric Retrieval." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 277 (2): 38 [10.3847/1538-4365/adb03a] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "BARBIE. Bayesian Analysis for Remote Biosignature Identification on exoEarths. III. Introducing the KEN." The Astronomical Journal 169 (1): 50 [10.3847/1538-3881/ad9729] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Bayesian Analysis for Remote Biosignature Identification on exoEarths (BARBIE). II. Using Grid-based Nested Sampling in Coronagraphy Observation Simulations for O2 and O3." The Astronomical Journal 167 (1): 27 [10.3847/1538-3881/ad0fde] [Journal Article/Letter]

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] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Bayesian Analysis for Remote Biosignature Identification on exoEarths (BARBIE). I. Using Grid-based Nested Sampling in Coronagraphy Observation Simulations for H2O." The Astronomical Journal 166 (3): 129 [10.3847/1538-3881/acebc3] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Grid-based Atmospheric Retrievals for Reflected-light Spectra of Exoplanets Using PSGnest." The Astronomical Journal 166 (3): 86 [10.3847/1538-3881/ace43b] [Journal Article/Letter]

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] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Toward 3D Retrieval of Exoplanet Atmospheres: Assessing Thermochemical Equilibrium Estimation Methods." The Planetary Science Journal 4 (4): 74 [10.3847/psj/acc939] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "On the Dayside Atmosphere of WASP-12b." The Astrophysical Journal 931 (2): 86 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac1e9f] [Journal Article/Letter]

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] [Journal Article/Letter]

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] [Journal Article/Letter]

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] [Journal Article/Letter]

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] [Journal Article/Letter]

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] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Identification and Mitigation of a Vibrational Telescope Systematic with Application to Spitzer." The Planetary Science Journal 2 (1): 9 [10.3847/psj/abc954] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "An Ensemble of Bayesian Neural Networks for Exoplanetary Atmospheric Retrieval." The Astronomical Journal 158 (1): 33 [10.3847/1538-3881/ab2390] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "Proxima Centauri b is not a transiting exoplanet." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 487 (1): 268-274 [10.1093/mnras/stz1268] [Journal Article/Letter]

Professional Service

Anonymous Reviewer

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

Contact Us

Jocelyn Lynch
Project Support Specialist
301-286-6066
jocelyn.m.lynch@nasa.gov
Ellie Jeffries
Project Support Specialist
301-286-6066
ellie.jeffries@nasa.gov

Technical issues with this website may be reported to ben.pelletier@nasa.gov.
General inquiries about the scientific programs at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center may be directed to the Center Office of Communications at 1.301.286.8955.