EXPERTISE

Data analysis: multi-dimensional data filtering in real and Fourier space (Wiener and adaptive filters). Adaptive-kernel convolution, Delaunay tessellation of discrete data samples (calculation of density fields). Detection of clusters in multidimensional data. Stacking.

Data processing and management: extensive experience with a wide range of multi-dimensional datasets, including imaging/maps, spectra and time-domain data. Experience with data mining and cross-matching. Familiar with SQL-based query syntax.

Statistics: Bayesian inference. Monte Carlo sampling of data and parameter space. Optimization using Markov chains, downhill, Powell methods. Resampling techniques. Identification and rejection of outliers based on robust statistics. Generation of simulated datasets.

Web development: design of web interfaces and underlying CGI programming. Use of Google Maps APIs for management of customised interactve tiles and layouts.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Operating Systems: extensive experience with Unix/Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows systems, including CLI control and diagnostics. Familiar with virtual machines and cloud computing environments. Familiar with different office suites, including MS Office, LibreOffice, OpenOffice.

Programming and scripting languages: IDL, Perl, Javascript, Python. Shell scripting (bash, tcsh). Proficient with LaTeX/TeXLive (this document was prepared using TeXLive). Familiar with HTML/XHTML/XML.

COLLABORATION SKILLS

Teamwork and collaborations: I am part of several international collaborations and astrophysical research projects using the latest technology and facilities, including the space-borne Herschel and Hubble telescopes. Currently, I am a member of the Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey (HerMES) and the Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey (H-ATLAS), two large consortia which include several UK and international institutions.

Communication and writing: I published and co-authored several scientific articles in peer- reviewed journals, and presented scientific results in many international conferences. I have extensive experience preparing periodic reports and presentations.

Mentoring/refereeing: I have been selected by the editors of peer-reviewed journals (including the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) as a reviewer for scientific articles; also, I have been summoned by the committees of several telescope facilities as a referee for observing time proposals. Over the years 2009-2011 I co-mentored a Ph.D. student, providing scientific and technical guidance (software, programming, data reduction); the student was recently awarded her doctorate degree with honours. I worked as a martial arts instructor from 1996 to 2003.

LANGUAGES

Italian: native speaker.
English: fluent (IELTS test result: 8.5/9).
French: good.
German: basic.

OTHER SKILLS

Black belt of karate Shotokan (III Dan); certified karate instructor from the EMSKS federation in Italy. I worked as a translator from English to Italian for the publisher ”Il Castello” of Milano, Italy. I also contributed to the KDE Desktop Environment with several widgets and a graphical theme, all available on www.kde-look.org.

EDUCATION

October 2008: Ph.D. (Dr. Rer. Nat.), Astrophysics
Ludwig Maximilian Universitaet, Munich, Germany
Doctorate degree Magna cum Laude
Alumni of the International Max-Planck Research School (IMPRS)

February 2004: M.Sc. (Laurea), Physics
Universita' degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Sep 2011 - Sep 2012: Postdoctoral Research Associate
(Present: Visiting Research Associate)
Astrophysics Group, Imperial College London, London, UK
Application of statistical algorithms to detect overdensities in multi-dimensional datasets at different wavelengths from ground- and space-borne facilities (Planck and Herschel satellites). Association and cross-identification of items between different datasets from statistical likelihood. Model fitting to data.

Oct 2008 - Aug 2011: Postdoctoral Fellow
University of British Columbia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vancouver BC, Canada
Processing of data from the balloon-borne telescope BLAST, including devising adaptive filtering algorithms in Fourier space to minimise data noise and identify astrophysical sources. Data quality assessment in the early commissioning phases of the SCUBA-2 instrument and associated software pipeline on the JCMT telescope. Data specialist for the CANFAR project: development and testing of a network infrastructure for automated data processing and analysis for large astronomical surveys, including web interface and automated deployment of processed data and results.

Jan 2005 - Oct 2008: Ph.D. Student
Max-Planck-Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany
Data processing and analysis of optical imaging and spectroscopic data. Statistical detection of 3D subsamples and sub-clustering inside large clusters of data. Management and statistics of multi- wavelength datasets. Website design and CGI scripting as part of the organising duties for an international astronomical conference.

PUBLICATIONS:

Braglia, F.G. et al. 2011, MNRAS, 412, 1187
Braglia, F.G. et al. 2009, A&A 500, 947
Braglia, F. et al. 2007, A&A 470, 425
Ziparo, F. et al. 2010, MNRAS, 420, 2480
Pierini, D. et al. 2011, MNRAS, 417, 2927
Merten, J. et al. 2011, MNRAS, 417, 333
Mackenzie, T. et al. 2010, MNRAS, 415, 1950
Valiante, E. et al. 2010, ApJS, 191, 222
Scott, K.S. et al. 2010, ApJS, 191, 212
Pierini, D. et al. 2008, A&A 483, 727
Moretti, A. et al. 2004, A&A, 428, 21

TALKS, CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS

Sep 12, 2012: Detecting dusty protoclusters with Planck and Herschel, Contributed talk in ”Growing up at high redshift: from proto-clusters to galaxy clusters”, European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain

Mar 27, 2012: Detecting dusty protoclusters with Planck and Herschel, Contributed talk at the National Astronomy Meeting (NAM2012), University of Manchester (Manchester, United Kingdom)

Dec 12-13, 2011: Attendee, “The future of UK Submillimetre Astronomy Workshop”, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory Edinburgh (Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

Nov 18, 2011: “Updates and early results from SCUBA-2”, Invited talk at the School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University (Cardiff, United Kingdom)

Nov 17, 2011: “Updates and early results from SCUBA-2”, Invited talk at The Open University (Milton Keynes, United Kingdom)

Dec 12-17, 2009: “The star-formation activity of galaxy clusters observed in the sub-mm with BLAST”, Contributed talk in “The Origin of Galaxies: Lessons from the Distant Universe”, Universitaetszentrum Obergurgl (Obergurgl, Austria)

Feb 17-20, 2009: “Multi-wavelength study of X-ray luminous clusters at intermediate redshift”, Con- tributed talk in “AstroSki 2009”, Mount Washington Alpine Resort (Vancouver Island, Canada)

Mar 31-Apr 3, 2008: “Galaxy ethology in a massive z∼0.3 cluster”, Invited talk in “From exoplan- ets to galaxy clusters: science with Astro-WISE”, Lorentz Center (Leiden, Netherlands)

Jun 25-29, 2007: “Flaming giant galaxies along filaments in A2744”: Poster contribution in “Trac- ing Cosmic Evolution with Galaxy Clusters: Six Years Later” (Sesto, Italy)

Aug 6-11, 2006: LOC member: webmaster, conference room technics manager and general IT man- ager in “Heating vs. Cooling in Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies” (Garching, Germany)

Sep 5-17, 2005: Attendee, “Summer School Novicosmo 2005: The Dark and Luminous Sides of The Formation of Structures” (Novigrad-Cittanova, Croatia)