Staff

Elizabeth Barteau joined the MRO in January 2013. As an undergrad double majoring in Technical Communication and Civil Engineering, she spends her time at MRO working on web management, education & outreach work, fundraising efforts, media and social media development, content management, and anything else Alisa asks of her.

Heather Bloemhard joined the NESSI project under the supervision of Dr. Michelle Creech-Eakman in Fall 2010. As the graduate research assistant, she provides support for the design, coordinates the procurements, assists with assembly integration verification plans, and is developing a pipeline for reducing and calibrating the data collected from NESSI. She is also a PhD student in the NMT Physics department.

David Buscher helped to set up the collaboration between the University of Cambridge and New Mexico Tech to build the MROI in 2002. He is System Architect for MROI (jointly with Chris Haniff), responsible for the overall system design of the MROI and for technical oversight of the project. He is also a lecturer at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, where he teaches physics and astronomy courses, and does research in optical interferometry and adaptive optics. Professional website

NMT Associate VP R&ED responsible for the Administrative Affairs of R&ED to include: budget preparation, fiscal and project management, proposal development, contract negotiation, start-up activity and commercialization of intellectual property. Masters of Science Degree, from the University of North Texas and a Certified Public Accountant. Thirty year’s experience in Higher Education Administration.

Michelle Creech-Eakman is an Associate Professor of Physics at NMT and has been the Project Scientist for MROI since 2003.  She also serves on several panels and organizing committees including those for SPIE, NASA and NSF. Professional webite

Patrick Di Bartolomeo joined the MRO in 2010. He works on the ridge at Magdalena ridge observatory as the Lead Electrician and Facilities Management at the BCF.

Mary Edwards joined MRO in September of 2012. She insures the efficient, smooth and orderly operation of the MRO administrative office and serves as point of contact for incoming calls, visitors. She has buyer duties include pricing, purchasing, training and providing all duties associated with the Banner System for generation of requisitions, change order, purchase orders, financial reports, etc and is available daily to perform all duties as assigned by the MRO staff, or as needed.

Allen Farris joined MRO in 2009 from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), where he worked on the control system of the VLA and the high-level architecture, control system, and scheduling systems of ALMA. As the leader of the Control and Software Systems group he is in charge of all software and computer systems that control the Interferometer.

Prescott Grey joined MRO in 2010. As the Telescope Systems Lead Consultant, Prescott contributes to the effective maintenance and optimization of the 2.4-meter Telescope engineering systems, including the dome and weather/sky monitoring instruments. His work includes upgrading current technical systems as well as designing and implementing new systems and equipment.

Chris Haniff heads the Optical Interferometry sub-group at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK and has worked on the MROI since 2002 when New Mexico Tech’s collaboration with the University of Cambridge to develop an ambitious optical/infrared imaging interferometer was initiated. Together with David Buscher, he is one of the two System Architects for the MROI, responsible for its overall system design and oversight of its technical delivery. He is a Professor of Physics at the Cavendish and is a fellow of Downing College, Cambridge. Professional website

Daniel Klinglesmith joined MRO in February 2000. He is responsible for monitoring the MRO ridge environment via remote weather stations, allsky cameras and seismographs. He also monitors the conditions within the beam combining facility and works with the delay line team. He is responsible for education and outreach through lectures, classes and star parties at the Etscorn Campus Observatory.

Matt Landavazo joined the MRO team January 2013. As he earns his Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Matt also works on controls development for the MROI beam relay system, which allows the interferometer to adjust to small changes in temperature as well as the shifting of the tectonic plates in the earth.

Tyler McCracken is a graduate student in the physics department at New Mexico Tech (NMT) pursuing a Ph.D.  He received his B.S. from McMurry University in 2008.  In 2009 he joined MROI and is performing his research on the development and implementation of the fringe tracker under the direction of  Dr. Colby Jurgenson.

Matthew Napolitano joined MRO in 2011. He is working under Luke Schmidt writing control software for NESSI. He is also currently working on his B.S. in both Mathematics and Physics at NMT.

Andres Olivares joined MRO in 2007 from NOAO/CTIO of Chile. As an Opto-Mechanical Engineer he is the sub-project lead for the Beam Relay System  and Unit Telescope Mount. He is also responsible for designing and assisting of major opto-mechanical subsystem for the Interferometer; supervise external contracts and purchases related to opto-mechanical effort. He is also an opto-mechanical engineer for NESSI in collaboration with NASA/JPL.

Richard Otero joined MRO in 2011. He works as the the assistant electrician on the ridge.

Ifan Payne joined MRO in 2003 from the University of New Mexico. As Site Project Manager he oversaw the development of the Observatory site on Magdalena Ridge until his appointment in 2009 as Readiness and Implementation Manager during which period his principal role was that of MROI Project Manager. He was appointed MRO Program Director in April, 2010. Personal website  

Juan Pino joined MRO in 2006. He works as the heavy equipment operator on the ridge.

James Riker joined MRO in August of 2012 as an incoming freshmen in the Physics Department at New Mexico Tech. James assists with instrumentation efforts on the MROI project.

Sam Rochelle joined MRO in December of 2012. As an undergraduate at New Mexico Tech, Sam works as a computer programmer for MRO, specifically on controls and software development for the instrument development group to support hardware and software integration.

Eileen Ryan joined MRO in 2002. As Director of the 2.4-meter Telescope, Dr. Ryan manages its technical, financial, and operational activities, and leads the development of scientific and military initiatives. She is the Principal Investigator of a NASA-funded Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) program and Co-Principal Investigator (with William Ryan) of an NSF-funded program to determine spin rates of NEOs.

William Ryan joined MRO in 2003. As Research Scientist for the  2.4-meter Telescope, Dr. Ryan conducts observationally-based research on objects in the Solar System (both natural and artificial), and provides scientific support for planning and development. He also tests/monitors the performance of the telescope, camera instruments, and software, and contributes to their improvement via new designs and approaches.

Chris Salcido joined MRO in 2007 as an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at New Mexico Tech (NMT) and became a full time Mechanical Engineer after graduating with his B.S. degree in 2008.  He is currently the lead engineer for the Vacuum System.

Rob Selina joined MRO in 2003 as a student engineer. After completing his B.S. in Electical Engineering, he joined the Site & Infrastructure team. As Project Manager for MROI, he is responsible for coordinating the development and construction in collaboration with the team leaders. He is the technical point of contact for several work-packages (beam combining facility, array infrastructure, unit telescope enclosure, unit telescope optics, and fast tip-tilt system).

Alisa Shtromberg joined MRO in 2006 after graduation with a B.S. degree in Astrophysics at New Mexico Tech (NMT). As the MROI Instrumentation Optics Engineer she is the lead on the Automated Alignment System project under the supervision of Dr. Colby Jurgenson. She is also currently working on her M.S. in Instrumentation at NMT. Personal website     

Craig Wallace-keck joined MRO in 2002. As the Lead Maintenance Technician for the 2.4-meter Telescope facility, Craig is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the building and support structures and provides technical support to the 2.4-m staff and research customers visiting and working at the facility.

NMT Associate VP R&ED responsible for the Administrative Affairs of R&ED to include: budget preparation, fiscal and project management, proposal development, contract negotiation, start-up activity and commercialization of intellectual property. Masters of Science Degree, from the University of North Texas and a Certified Public Accountant. Thirty year’s experience in Higher Education Administration.

Mary Edwards joined MRO in September of 2012. She insures the efficient, smooth and orderly operation of the MRO administrative office and serves as point of contact for incoming calls, visitors. She has buyer duties include pricing, purchasing, training and providing all duties associated with the Banner System for generation of requisitions, change order, purchase orders, financial reports, etc and is available daily to perform all duties as assigned by the MRO staff, or as needed.

Ifan Payne joined MRO in 2003 from the University of New Mexico. As Site Project Manager he oversaw the development of the Observatory site on Magdalena Ridge until his appointment in 2009 as Readiness and Implementation Manager during which period his principal role was that of MROI Project Manager. He was appointed MRO Program Director in April, 2010. Personal website  

Eileen Ryan joined MRO in 2002. As Director of the 2.4-meter Telescope, Dr. Ryan manages its technical, financial, and operational activities, and leads the development of scientific and military initiatives. She is the Principal Investigator of a NASA-funded Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) program and Co-Principal Investigator (with William Ryan) of an NSF-funded program to determine spin rates of NEOs.

Prescott Grey joined MRO in 2010. As the Telescope Systems Lead Consultant, Prescott contributes to the effective maintenance and optimization of the 2.4-meter Telescope engineering systems, including the dome and weather/sky monitoring instruments. His work includes upgrading current technical systems as well as designing and implementing new systems and equipment.

Eileen Ryan joined MRO in 2002. As Director of the 2.4-meter Telescope, Dr. Ryan manages its technical, financial, and operational activities, and leads the development of scientific and military initiatives. She is the Principal Investigator of a NASA-funded Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) program and Co-Principal Investigator (with William Ryan) of an NSF-funded program to determine spin rates of NEOs.

William Ryan joined MRO in 2003. As Research Scientist for the  2.4-meter Telescope, Dr. Ryan conducts observationally-based research on objects in the Solar System (both natural and artificial), and provides scientific support for planning and development. He also tests/monitors the performance of the telescope, camera instruments, and software, and contributes to their improvement via new designs and approaches.

Craig Wallace-keck joined MRO in 2002. As the Lead Maintenance Technician for the 2.4-meter Telescope facility, Craig is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the building and support structures and provides technical support to the 2.4-m staff and research customers visiting and working at the facility.

Heather Bloemhard joined the NESSI project under the supervision of Dr. Michelle Creech-Eakman in Fall 2010. As the graduate research assistant, she provides support for the design, coordinates the procurements, assists with assembly integration verification plans, and is developing a pipeline for reducing and calibrating the data collected from NESSI. She is also a PhD student in the NMT Physics department.

Michelle Creech-eakman is an Associate Professor of Physics at NMT and has been the Project Scientist for MROI since 2003.  She also serves on several panels and organizing committees including those for SPIE, NASA and NSF. Professional website

Matthew Napolitano joined MRO in 2011. He is working under Luke Schmidt writing control software for NESSI. He is also currently working on his B.S. in both Mathematics and Physics at NMT. 

Andres Olivares joined MRO in 2007 from NOAO/CTIO of Chile. As an Opto-Mechanical Engineer he is the sub-project lead for the Beam Relay System  and Unit Telescope Mount. He is also responsible for designing and assisting of major opto-mechanical subsystem for the Interferometer; supervise external contracts and purchases related to opto-mechanical effort. He is also an opto-mechanical engineer for NESSI in collaboration with NASA/JPL.

Chris Salcido joined MRO in 2007 as an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at New Mexico Tech (NMT) and became a full time Mechanical Engineer after graduating with his B.S. degree in 2008.  He is currently the lead engineer for the Vacuum System.

Michelle Creech-eakman is an Associate Professor of Physics at NMT and has been the Project Scientist for MROI since 2003.  She also serves on several panels and organizing committees including those for SPIE, NASA and NSF. Professional website

Allen Farris joined MRO in 2009 from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), where he worked on the control system of the VLA and the high-level architecture, control system, and scheduling systems of ALMA. As the leader of the Control and Software Systems group he is in charge of all software and computer systems that control the Interferometer.

Daniel Klinglesmith started joined MRO in February 2000. He is responsible for monitoring the MRO ridge environment via remote weather stations, allsky cameras and seismographs. He also monitors the conditions within the beam combining facility and works with the delay line team. He is responsible for education and outreach through lectures, classes and star parties at the Etscorn Campus Observatory.

Tyler McCracken is a graduate student in the physics department at New Mexico Tech (NMT) pursuing a Ph.D.  He received his B.S. from McMurry University in 2008.  In 2009 he joined MROI and is performing his research on the development and implementation of the fringe tracker under the direction of  Dr. Colby Jurgenson.

Andres Olivares joined MRO in 2007 from NOAO/CTIO of Chile. As an Opto-Mechanical Engineer he is the sub-project lead for the Beam Relay System  and Unit Telescope Mount. He is also responsible for designing and assisting of major opto-mechanical subsystem for the Interferometer; supervise external contracts and purchases related to opto-mechanical effort. He is also an opto-mechanical engineer for NESSI in collaboration with NASA/JPL.

James Riker joined MRO in August of 2012 as an incoming freshmen in the Physics Department at New Mexico Tech. James assists with instrumentation efforts on the MROI project.

Sam Rochelle joined MRO in December of 2012. As an undergraduate at New Mexico Tech, Sam works as a computer programmer for MRO, specifically on controls and software development for the instrument development group to support hardware and software integration.

Chris Salcido joined MRO in 2007 as an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at New Mexico Tech (NMT) and became a full time Mechanical Engineer after graduating with his B.S. degree in 2008.  He is currently the lead engineer for the Vacuum System.

width=”120″ height=”130″ />Rob Selina joined MRO in 2003 as a student engineer. After completing his B.S. in Electical Engineering, he joined the Site & Infrastructure team. As Project Manager for MROI, he is responsible for coordinating the development and construction in collaboration with the team leaders. He is the technical point of contact for several work-packages (beam combining facility, array infrastructure, unit telescope enclosure, unit telescope optics, and fast tip-tilt system).

Alisa Shtromberg joined MRO in 2006 after graduation with a B.S. degree in Astrophysics at New Mexico Tech (NMT). As the MROI Instrumentation Optics Engineer she is the lead on the Automated Alignment System project under the supervision of Dr. Colby Jurgenson. She is also currently working on her M.S. in Instrumentation at NMT. Personal website     

David Buscher helped to set up the collaboration between the University of Cambridge and New Mexico Tech to build the MROI in 2002. He is System Architect for MROI (jointly with Chris Haniff), responsible for the overall system design of the MROI and for technical oversight of the project. He is also a lecturer at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, where he teaches physics and astronomy courses, and does research in optical interferometry and adaptive optics. Professional website

Chris Haniff heads the Optical Interferometry sub-group at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK and has worked on the MROI since 2002 when New Mexico Tech’s collaboration with the University of Cambridge to develop an ambitious optical/infrared imaging interferometer was initiated. Together with David Buscher, he is one of the two System Architects for the MROI, responsible for its overall system design and oversight of its technical delivery. He is a Professor of Physics at the Cavendish and is a fellow of Downing College, Cambridge. Professional website

Patrick Di Bartolomeo joined the MRO in 2010. He works on the ridge at Magdalena ridge observatory as the Lead Electrician and Facilities Management at the BCF.

Richard Otero joined MRO in 2011. He works as the the assistant electrician on the ridge.

Juan Pino joined MRO in 2006. He works as the heavy equipment operator on the ridge.

Daniel Klinglesmith joined MRO in February 2000. He is responsible for monitoring the MRO ridge environment via remote weather stations, allsky cameras and seismographs. He also monitors the conditions within the beam combining facility and works with the delay line team. He is responsible for education and outreach through lectures, classes and star parties at the Etscorn Campus Observatory.