I am a Physicist and the Division Chair of the Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMP) Division at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA). I direct the HITRAN molecular spectroscopic database project. HITRAN and its sister database for high-temperature applications (HITEMP) are the international standard for spectroscopic parameters used in atmospheric and astrophysical studies.
Academic Background & Journey
My academic journey began at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), where I earned a Diploma of Engineering Physicist from the Department of Molecular and Biological Physics in 1999. I then moved to the University of Toronto, completing my MSc in Physics in 2000, followed by a PhD from the University of Waterloo in 2006. My doctoral dissertation, "Spectroscopy of selected metal-containing diatomic molecules," was completed under the advisement of Prof. Peter F. Bernath.
Following my PhD, I joined the CfA as a Postdoctoral Associate (2006–2008), where I got involved in the HITRAN project. My career has since focused on the intersection of spectroscopy, atmospheric science, astrophysics, and data science. I became a trust-fund physicist at the CfA in 2008. I took over the HITRAN project in 2017 and became the AMP Division Chair in 2023. My research interests include a) laboratory and theoretical molecular spectroscopy of atmospheric and astrophysical interest; b) use of available spectroscopic information to construct databases that aid research in diverse areas of science and industry; c) development of the tools for validating the spectroscopic data and enhancing its accessibility.
I am also an active advocate of open scientific data and open-source codes.
Professional Credentials
Education
- PhD in Physics, University of Waterloo (2006)
- MSc in Physics, University of Toronto (2000)
- Diploma in Engineering Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (1999)
Key Affiliations & Service
Division Chair, Atomic and Molecular Physics Division, CfA (since 2023)
Associate Editor of JQSRT (since 2015)
Chair, CfA Scientific Computation Advisory Committee (2017–2020)
Reviewer, Over 20 journals and multiple review panels for NASA and NSF proposal calls
