Steven Dorsher

Volunteer

Facebook•  August 2018 - Present

Volunteer Scientific Programmer—Star Orbits (6/2019 – present) Saint Cloud, MN  Writing a python numerical simulation that computes elliptical and circular orbits of two stars in Newtonian physics, in contrast to the relativistic orbits of black hole binaries computed at LSU. ─ https://tinyurl.com/TwoStarsPython ─ https://tinyurl.com/TwoStarsEccentric Volunteer in Math and Science Tutor and Rocketry Commentator (4/2019 – present) Saint Cloud, MN  Former volunteer for SpaceX Rocket company as a commentator on Facebook and Discord. Former volunteer for Facebook Science Discussion as a physics and astronomy tutor. Presently a volunteer on Facebook Math Help as a calculus, trigonometry, algebra, statistics, and sometimes higher math tutor.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College

Physics, MS•  July 2014 - December 2017

Research Assistant—Black Hole Orbits (6/2014 – 10/2017) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA  Ported a large general relativity code from FORTRAN to C++ on a Linux computer and on a Mac using bash. Computed orbits for Extreme Mass Ration Black Hole Binaries on circular orbits with a self-force that would cause them to inspiral and emit gravitational waves if they were not being held artificially fixed at the orbit as if by a rocket. Codes agreed to 10-12 relative error. ─ https://github.com/sdorsher/CPP-General-Relativity-wave-equation-simulation  Performed a roundoff and truncation error analysis of elliptical orbits in python on the original FORTRAN code and determined the best discontinuous Galerkin starting order for numerically solving the partial differential equations involved in the scalar General Relativity approximation. ─ https://github.com/sdorsher/PythonNumericalAndStatisticalErrorAnalysis  Performed a visualization of the sky as seen by an observer around a Black Hole using ray tracing and General Relativity in mpi4py in Python. http://www.tinyurl.com/sdorsherBHskyimage ─ https://github.com/sdorsher/BHrayTracingImageMPIpython  Documented the work in a 70+ page thesis. ─ https://tinyurl.com/sdorsherEMRIthesis Research Assistant – LIGO Project (12/2015 – 1/2017) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA  LIGO Event Trigger HBase database in Java in standalone mode on a Linux computer. ─ https://github.com/sdorsher/prototypeLIGOEventTriggerHBasedatabase Temporary Outreach Coordinator (6/2014 – 8/2014) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA  Monitored the satisfaction and progress of 30 high school and undergraduate materials science and computer science researchers in the LA-SiGMA program. Reported to two professors. Helped make decisions about student development and employment.

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Campus

Physics, MS•  August 2006 - July 2013

Research Assistant – LIGO Project (9/2008 – 1/2011) University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN  Implemented a prototype of a gravitational wave search in MATLAB and computed statistics for that search on a Linux computer and on a Mac using bash. This search looked for line-like patterns on a frequency-time map using the Radon transform. Prototyped parameter estimation and recovery but not statistical significance. Tested the software pipeline using software injections in the time domain.  Performed simulations of the Newtonian noise (gravity gradient noise) in MATLAB.  Performed analytic computations demonstrating the necessary symmetry for gravity gradient noise subtraction in a LIGO-like or Einstein Telescope-like interferometer.  Computed coherences of seismic waves in the Homestake Mine to determine if the site was suitable for an underground gravitational wave detector.  Four primary publications resulted, and more than 20 others as a result of participation in a 1000-person collaboration, LIGO. Fellowship—Theoretical Particle Physics (6/2008 – 8/2008) University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN  Theoretically computed the F-meson and photon component of the muon magnetic moment using Feynman diagrams, quantum field theory, and symmetry considerations to tree level. Research Assistant – Neutrinos (9/2006 – 6/2008) University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN  Experimentally measured the breakdown voltage of avalanching photodiodes on a PC.  Used Microsoft Excel to plot the temperature versus the breakdown voltage.  Classified particle tracks in the MINOS far detector by particle type.

St. Cloud State University

Physics, Non Degree•  July 2012 - July 2013

Research – Fractional Calculus Simulation (7/2012 – 7/2013) Saint Cloud State University, Saint Cloud, MN  Modelled a fractional order differentiator and integrator in C++ using a novel algorithm that improved the constant phase bandwidth by four orders of magnitude as simulated on a PC.  Documented this research in a preprint and submitted it for publication.

Ohio State University

Astronomy, MS•  August 2004 - August 2006

Research Assistant – Exoplanets (8/2004 – 2/2006) Ohio State University, Columbus, OH  Determined statistically how common exoplanets like Jupiter or a little larger were in the transiting exoplanet survey OGLE-III using a Monte Carlo simulation of the galactic stellar population in the galaxy from the Hipparchos Survey on a Linux computer.  Helped write the resulting publication

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Physics, BS•  August 2000 - June 2004

Undergraduate Researcher (1/2003 – 6/2004) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA  Statistical assessment of the feasibility of measuring cosmological parameters (dark energy, matter density) using gravitational lensing in C on a Linux computer.  Undergraduate Thesis.