The Astronomy Instrumentation Service Center (AISC) has the primary goal of providing logistical, engineering and management support to the development of Astronomical instrumentation. The AISC supports work within the Department of Astronomy as well as being able to provide engineering, consulting, and development work to PI’s outside of the Department. Service inquiries should be sent to aisc@astro.ufl.edu.
Members of AISC:
- Develop new technologies to be used in future, unique, cutting-edge instruments
- Train undergraduate students, graduate student, and technicians in various aspects of astronomical instrumentation.
- Develop interdisciplinary instrument projects involving astronomy, multidisciplinary, and international collaborations.
- Apply an affective, streamlined and unified approach to working with outside vendors to support Astronomy instrument development in a financially sound environment.
The instrumentation staff consists of several engineers and technicians to support design, development, and integration of the instruments. Links below point to CVs.
- B. Zhao; (Assistant Scientist; Senior Optical Engineer) PhD 2000 CIOMP of CAS: Optical Engineer, Optical Design, construction, assembly and alignment. ZEMAX
- G. Bennett; (ME, Senior Engineer): Mechanical design, assembly, and maintenance. SolidWorks
- C. Warner; (SW Engineer): Python, Java, C++, IDL, GPU programming. Control and DAS. Microcontrollers
- F. Varosi; (SW Engineer, Senior Engineer): JAVA, C++. IDL, DAS, Data Analysis, Control DAS, Microcontrollers
- S. Schofield; (EE, IPC): DAS, Control systems, C++, Fortran, Matlab, , Microcontrollers, RTOS, Electrical design and Construction, PCB design (EAGLE), Mentor Graphics, SPICE
Laboratories on 4th floor of Bryant Space Sciences center include an electronics lab, an instrument assembly and test area and software necessary to design instrument electronics. Optical and mechanical design software, test benches, and assembly areas are also available in labs on the fourth floor. The basement of Bryant Space Sciences Center as well as the SAIL lab has space for assembling, prototyping, and testing instruments before being sent out for use.
Service Center Rates (click here)