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

Short Biography

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

• National Optical Astronomy Observatory (1991 – 1996)
  • Kitt Peak National Observatory Fellow (1991 – 1993)
  • WIYN 3.5m Project Manager (1993 – 1996)
  • US Gemini Project Office, Staff Astronomer (1996)
    
    
• European Southern Observatory (1997 – 2005)
  • Deputy Division Head, Data Management & Operations (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)
  • AURA Senior Scientist
  • TMT Observatory Scientist
  • Interim head, Operations Design (DEOPS) department
    
    
• National Optical Astronomy Observatory (2008 – present)
  • Director
    

Recent Research Activity

• Next Generation Spectral Library (NGSL)
  • Preview page
  • Overview (2005) (Gregg et al.)
  • Overview (2006) (Silva)
  • Calibrated STIS spectra (Heap & Lindler 2008)
  • High-resolution (R ~ 40 000) version (VLT/UVES): in preparation
  • Extension to 2.3 microns (IRTF/SpeX): in preparation

• Investigation of K-band Spectral Features in Early-type Galaxies
  • Fornax cluster galaxies: central regions
    • Silva, Kuntschner, & Lyubenova 2008, ApJ, 674, 194
    • Preprint: arXiv:0710.5529
  • SINFONI integral-field spectroscopy observations of NGC 1399
    • Lyubenova, Kuntschner & Silva A&A, 2008, 485, 425
    • Preprint: arXiv:0803.3806
  • Fornax cluster galaxies: radial gradients
    • Silva & Kuntschner 2009, ApJ, in preparation
  • Field galaxies: Madrid group
    • Marmol Queralto et al. 2009, ApJ, in preparation
  • SINFONI integral-field spectroscopy observations LMC clusters
    • Lyubenova, Kuntschner, Silva, et al. A&A, 2009, in preparation

• Red supergiant stars in local group galaxies
  • Preprint: arXiv:0708.2847

• Recent Doctoral 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: Associate Astronomer, ESO
  • Mariya Lyubenova (2005 – present) (with Harald Kuntschner)
    • Current position: student, ESO, International Max-Planck Research School on Astrophysics (IMPRS)

End Quotes

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.

Updated: 30 August 2008– dsilva@noao.edu