Curriculum Vitae
Luis Alberto Canizares - canizares (at) cp.dias.ie
Education
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies / Trinity College Dublin
PhD in Solar Physics (in progress)
- PhD Project title: "Space Weather with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) and NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and ESA’s Solar Orbiter".
- Supervisors: Prof. Peter Gallagher and Dr. Eoin Carley
Imperial College London
MSc Advanced Computational Methods for Aeronautics, Flow Management and Fluid-Structure Interaction
- Masters Research Project: "Deployable Compliant Booms for Nano-Satellite Missions".
Dublin City University
BSc Physics with Astronomy
- Awarded with the ‘top-ranked student of the year’ in 1st and 2nd Year.
- 4th year thesis: “Exoplanet atmospheric Characterisation using the Rossiter McLaughlin Effect.”
- Founder and President of DCU Space and Robotics Club
Trinity College Dublin
BAI Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
- 4th year thesis: “Phase Change on Nanostructured Surfaces”.
- Awarded “the best Management for Engineers” project in 3rd year.
- Winner of the 2012 “Trinity Engineering Student Entrepreneurs of the Year Competition” with the project Boundless.
Work Experience
University of Notre Dame
Research Experience for Undergraduates - REU
- Investigated the nature of the Cataclysmic Variable “GY Cnc”.
- Used Python to automate and analyse the large datasets obtained from the Kepler Space Telescope.
- Published report titled ‘Analysis of the cataclysmic variable GY Cnc light curve over two K2 campaigns.
- Published a research note at the American Astronomical Society.
Irish Low Frequency Array, LOFAR
Building Team Member
- Built and installed the I-LOFAR Telescope in Birr, Ireland.
- Set up the antennas and instrumentation of radio astronomy.
- Optimised the process of building the telescope and ensured all equipment met the quality standards.
EADS Astrium (Airbus Defence and Space)
Satellite Payload Mechanical Design Intern
- Aided designers in the use of CATIA CAD Platform.
- Optimisation of satellite database and design process.
- Upgraded applications into more user-friendly interfaces.
- Tested and debugged software used for visualisation and design.
Technical University Berlin
Research Intern
- Research project for the development of advanced manufacturing techniques of microscopic edges.
- Developed a Matlab program to determine the quality of the manufacturing process.
- This software was published by Mathworks under the name Aquiles and is available open-source.
First Tutors / Science in a Box
Science, Maths and Physics Tutor
- Grinds for Junior and Leaving Certificate students.
- Primary school co-teacher, teaching science to three classes of 30 children each.
NOTABLE PROJECTS AND AWARDS
Irish Research Council
2019 Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship
- Awarded for the purpose of completing a PhD in Space Weather with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) and NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and ESA’s Solar Orbiter. Scholarship commenced on September of 2019.
Naughton Foundation Fellowship
Naughton NOTRE DAME Scholarship
- Selected to participate in the REU programme at the University of Notre Dame.
- Awarded $8,500 for travel and living expenses.
DCU Space And Robotics Club, SPARC
Founder and President of the first astronomy and robotics club in DCU.
- Club featured in the March issue of the Astronomy Ireland Magazine.
- Managed many projects including sumo robots, DIY 3D printer, quadcopter drone, Mars rover and rocket.
- Organized and presented the science Podcast “Sparc it up”.
- Organized a trip abroad for 20 people to see the northern lights in Iceland.
James Dyson Award
National Winner 2013
- Awarded for the development of Boundless, an innovative adjustable snowboard binding that lets the snowboarder move with more freedom in flat areas and gives an increased comfort in chairlifts.
Publications
Research Notes
- Cañizares LA, Garnavich P, Littlefield C, Pepper J, Bieryla A, Awiphan S, et al. An Improved Orbital Period for GY Cancri Based on Two K2 Campaigns. Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society. 2018 Oct;2(4):184.
Matlab - MathWorks
- Published Software known as “Aquiles” in MathWorks file exchange. Over 700 downloads since submission.