Dr. David Richard Silva Director National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) AURA dsilva@noao.edu

Curriculum vitae (Last update: June 2012)

Recent service activities

President (2012 - 2015), Division B: Facilities, Technologies, and Data Science
Member (2012 - 2014), Kepler User Panel
Member (2010 - 2013), AAS Nomination Committee
Member (permanent), LSST Board of Directors
Member (2013 - TBD), TMT Board of Directors
Member (2013 - 2015, Gemini Board of Directors

Publications

Refereed Publications (ADS)
Non-refereed publications (ADS)
Recent external preprints (astro-ph via ADS)

Career path

BSc: U. of Arizona (1984)
PhD: U. of Michigan (1991)

• National Optical Astronomy Observatory (1991 – 1996) [Tucson/AZ, USA]
  • Post-doc, Kitt Peak National Observatory (1991 – 1993)
  • Project manager, WIYN 3.5m Project (1993 – 1996)
  • Staff astronomer (tenure-track), US Gemini Project Office (1996)
    
    
• European Southern Observatory (1997 – 2005) [Garching bei München, Germany]
  • Astronomer (indefinite contract, de facto tenure, 2000 - 2005)
• Deputy Division Head, Data Management & Operations Division (2000 – 2005)
• Head, User Support Department (1997 – 2001)
• Head, Data Flow Operations Department (2002 – 2005)
  • Data processing and quality control
  • ESO Science Archive
• Co-leader, ALMA Operations Working Group (2003 – 2005)
  
  
• Thirty Meter Telescope Project (2006 – 2008) [Pasadena/CA, USA]
  • AURA Senior Scientist
  • TMT Observatory Scientist
  • Interim head, Operations Design (DEOPS) department
    
    
• National Optical Astronomy Observatory (2008 – present) [Tucson/AZ, USA]
  • AURA Senior Scientist
  • Director

Recent research activity

• Digital stellar libraries
  • Next Generation Spectral Library (NGSL)
    • Overview (2005) (Gregg et al.)
    • Overview (2006) (Silva)
    • Calibrated STIS spectra (Heap & Lindler 2008)
    • High-resolution (R ~ 40 000) version (VLT/UVES): in preparation
      
      
  • XSL: The X-Shooter Spectral Library
    • Overview (2012) (Trager et al.)

• Characterizing near-IR spectral features in late-type galaxies
  • A new approach to the study of stellar populations in early-type galaxies:
    K-band spectral indices and an application to the Fornax cluster
    • Silva, Kuntschner, & Lyubenova 2008, ApJ, 674, 194
    • Preprint: arXiv:0710.5529
      
      
  • Central K-band kinematics and line strength maps of NGC 1399
    • Lyubenova, Kuntschner & Silva A&A, 2008, 485, 425
    • Preprint: arXiv:0803.3806
      
      
  • Evidence for intermediate-age stellar populations in early-type galaxies
    from K-band spectroscopy
    • Mármol-Queraltó, Cardiel, Sanchez-Blazquez, Trager, Peletier, Kunstchner,
      Silva, Cenarro, Vazdekis, & Gorgas 2009, ApJ, 705, 199
    • Preprint: arXiv:0909.538
      
      
  • Integrated K-band spectra of old and intermediate-age globular clusters in
    the Large Magellanic Cloud
    • Lyubenova, Kuntschner, Rejkuba, Silva, Kissler-Patig, Tacconi-Garmin
      & Larsen, A&A, 2010, A19
    • Preprint: arXiv:0910.2714
      
      
  • Integrated J- and H-band spectra of globular clusters in the LMC:
    implications for stellar population models and galaxy age dating
    • Lyubenova, Kuntschner, Rejkuba, Silva, Kissler-Patig, & Tacconi-Garmin.
      A&A, 2012, in press
    • Preprint: arXiv:1205.52
      
      
  • Radial gradients in K-band spectral features in Fornax late-type galaxies
    • Silva & Kuntschner, in preparation

• Massive stars evolution in Local Group Galaxies
  • Red supergiants in the Andromeda galaxy (M31)
    • Massey, Silva, Levesque, Plez, Olsen, Clayton, Meynet & Maeder
      2009, ApJ, 420
    • Preprint: arXiv:0907.376
      
      
  • Spectral classification of massive stars in M31 and M33
    • Smart, Massey & Silva 2012, in preparation
    • AAS abstract
      
      
• Miscellaneous
  • The infrared light curve of SN 2011fe in M101 and the distance to M101
    • Matheson, Allen, Joyce, Saha, Silva, et al. 2012, ApJ, in press.
    • Preprint: arXiv:1205:5269
      
      
  • Kepler-21b: A 1.6 R_Earth planet transiting the bright oscillating
    F subgiant star HD 179070
    • Howell et al. 2012, ApJ, 746, 123
    • Preprint: arXiv:1112.2165

Former Ph.D. students

• Simona Mei (1998 – 1999) (with Peter Quinn)
  • Current position: Associate Prof., U. of Paris Diderot
    
    
• Marina Rejkuba (2000 – 2002) (with Dante Minniti)
  • Current position: Astronomer, ESO
    
    
• Mariya Lyubenova (2005 – 2008) (with Harald Kuntschner)
  • Current position: post-doc, Galaxies and Cosmology group, MPIA/Heidelberg

Despite scientific claims to the contrary, the destiny or meaning of the human race, and of the cosmic order, cannot be ascertained by a study of discrete biological or historical events. It is no more logical to argue that the world has no ultimate cause or purpose than to argue that it does – in both cases the empirical or scientific evidence for deciding the matter is inadequate. - Robert Jastrow, 2000, God and the Astronomers.

Outdoor actvities page (with ski links)

Updated: 7 December 2012 – dsilva@noao.edu