Find Talent
Satish Desai
* Physicist with strong analytical, quantitative and technical skills in statistical analysis, visualization of complex datasets, extraction of rare signals using large scale computing
* Experienced leader of both analysis and operations teams, adept at developing strategies to meet ambitious goals on tight deadlines
* Sixteen years of experience working in worldwide collaborations of scientists and engineers
* Established track record of both internal and external publications and presentations, teaching and outreach to lay audiences
Education
Experience
Data Analysis
* Validated detector performance against expectations from QA measurements during construction
* Developed methods to track and minimize waste and failure rates for construction of detector modules
Computing
* Wrote general grid submission utility in python, adopted as standard tool by NOvA collaboration
* Wrote bash and python monitoring scripts for QA system in NOvA module construction
* Maintained PostgreSQL database used for quality assurance in construction of NOvA detector modules
Leadership Experience
* Led data-processing group through two campaigns, developed and formalized operating procedures, producing more than two million files consuming 1.5 PB of space, used for two high profile publications in prestigious journals
* Co-led quality assurance team in construction of more than 11,000 modules for 14,000 ton experiment
Teaching and Communication
* Taught 100-student physics course for non-majors, “Energy and the Environment,” well reviewed by students
* Organized and moderated local sessions of annual Quarknet masterclass for high-school students
* Presented NOvA construction status and results at five seminars, colloquia and international conferences
* Presented regular updates on status of data-processing and detector construction efforts
Service and Volunteering
* Advocate for interests of postdocs at University of Minnesota
* Manage University of Minnesota Postdoctoral Association website, Facebook and LinkedIn pages
* Organize social events for Postdoctoral Association
Leadership
* Co-led flagship searches for Higgs boson at DZero, in charge of three sub-groups resulting in 13 publications in prestigious journals, including first evidence for Higgs boson and three papers selected by journal editor for special recognition
* Co-led operations for 740k channel subsystem of DZero detector, planned and managed major repair effort recovering 50% of inactive channels, streamlined procedures resulting in reduced ops crew, improved live-time
Data-analysis
* Devised and validated signal and background model corrections, designed searches using machine learning to identify rare signals (Higgs boson, new physics) from millions of data-points, executed and optimized statistical analysis of data
* Participated in the internal review board for eight papers on top-quark production mechanisms
Computing
* Maintained C++ analysis software package using ROOT scientific library and collie statistical analysis suite, rewrote batch submission frameworks in python for several stages of analysis
* Co-administered Linux cluster of several hundred PCs, adopted as standard desktop solution by DZero collaboration
Communication Skills
* Presented Higgs search results at 16 seminars, colloquia and international conferences, including special seminar that was also streamed online (http://vms.fnal.gov/asset/detail?recid=1932435)
* Gave regular progress reports on analysis and detector status
* Wrote extensive internal technical notes used as basis for vetting scientific results prior to publication
* Trained other scientists to monitor experimental operations
* Moderated annual Quarknet masterclass for high-school students
* Gave frequent tours of Fermilab facilities to groups of diverse background
Service
* Elected to DZero Advisory Council, providing advice and feedback to collaboration upper management.
Skills
Languages: C++, python, bash, PostgreSQL, HTML
Applications: ROOT scientific library, MS Office, OpenOffice, GNU Octave, LaTeX
Code Management: SVN, GIT, CVS