Rene A. Mendez

Full Professor

Background & Contact Information

Ph.D. in Astronomy Yale University, USA, 1995

Research Topics:Galactic structure, solar neighborhood, astrometry, interferometry and photometry, statistical techniques.

rmendez@uchile.cl

56 (2) 2 977 1117 - 56 (2) 2 978 0970 (FCFM)

Website:

Publications

Areas of interest

Galactic Structure: Kinematics & stellar dynamics. The Solar neighborhood. Binary and multiple stellar systems. Astrometry, interferometry, photometry. Advanced statistical techniques.

Biography

Rene A. Mendez specializes in stellar astrophysics and stellar populations studies of the Milky Way using computer models and high-precision astrometric measurement techniques to tackle various problems of astrophysical interests. These techniques encompass trigonometric parallaxes of nearby stars, proper motions of resolved stellar populations for stellar kinematics – including satellite galaxies of the Milky Way - and the study of visual binary stars for mass determinations. He is also interested in the use of statistical tools from information and decision theory for the analysis of astronomical data, especially astrometry and photometry of point sources and moving sources using solid-state detectors.

Studies:

Post-Doctoral researcher 1998-2000: Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, La Serena, Chile

Post-Doctoral fellow 1996-1997: European Southern Observatory, Münich, Germany

Post-Doctoral researcher,1995: Department of Astronomy, Yale University, USA

PhD in Astronomy from Yale University, USA, 1995: "A semi-empirical model for the distribution of star counts, color, and kinematic properties of stars in the Milky Way". Advisor professor William F. van Altena

Master of Science in Astronomy Universidad de Chile, 1989: "Kinematic Study of the Sirius and Hyades superclusters", Advisor professor María T. Ruiz

Bachelor of Science with a major in Physics, Universidad de Chile, 1987.

Career outline:

2018-until now: Cloister member for the master´s program, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Physical Sciences & Mathematics, University of Chile

2004-until now: Professor Astronomy Department (DAS), Faculty of Physical Sciences & Mathematics, University of Chile

2001 - 2003: Staff Astronomer, European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile

1994-1995: Research assistant, Allied Aerospace Ltd., USA

Courses, projects, recent publications

Web site: http://www.das.uchile.cl/~rmendez/

Research profile: Google Scholar

Current statistics: Web of Science – Publons, ORCID

Expert referee for the journals: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Astronomische Nachrichten, Astrophysics and Space Science, New Astronomy, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, The Astronomical Journal, The Astrophysical Journal (& Letters).

Undergraduate teaching: Stellar astrophysics, Introduction to astrobiology, Experimental Astronomy, Optics, Experimental Methods in Physics, Newtonian systems, Mechanics, Basic tutorial research, Directed research, Summer school (Astronomy – bachelor).

Graduate courses: Galactic Astronomy, Advanced research workshop, Research seminar, Thesis work.

Thesis:

J. Carillo, Master in Astronomy (in progress)
D. González, Doctorate in Astronomy (in progress)
C. Rojas, Doctorate in Astronomy (in progress)
C. Caballero, Master in Astronomy, (in progress)
M. Vega, Master in Astronomy, 2024.
J. Anguita-Agüero, Master in Astronomy, 2023.
M. Videla, Master in Electrical Engineering, 2021.
F. Cordova, Master in Electrical Engineering, 2021.
C. Villegas, Master in Electrical Engineering, 2020
R. Claveria, Master in Electrical Engineering, 2017
M. Radiszcz, Doctorate in Astronomy, 2010
C. Moni-Bidin, Doctorate in Astronomy, 2009

Administration:

2024 – 2026: Member Science and Technnology Advisory Committee, Gemini-South
2024 – 2026: Elected Member Special Nominating Committee, International Astronomical Union
2022 to date: Member NOIRLab mid-scale observatories user´s Committee
2022 to date: Alternate member representative of U. de Chile to AURA
2022: Chairman Implementation Committee Vera Rubin fund (LSST).
2021-2023: Elected member of Comision 1 International Astronomical Union.
2020-2022: Elected member to the Council of the Astronomy Department.
2017 – 2023: Member Time Allocation Committee, for GEMINI-South (ANID).
2016 – 2022: Science seminars coordinator, DAS.
2011-2013: Director DAS & Director UMI-LFCA (CNRS).
2010-2011: Deputy director DAS.
2008-2011: Council member ALMA-CONICYT fund.
2004-2011: Director of undergraduate studies DAS.
2004- now: Representative of the National Astronomical Observatory, as a technical office of the Republic of Chile, for the calculation of astronomical ephemerides.

Funded research projects:

2025: ESO-Chile Joint Committee
2024-2026: Principal Investigator, FONDECYT
2023: Principal Investigator Enlace/Universidad de Chile
2019-2022: Principal Investigator, FONDECYT
2008-2021: Associate researcher, Chilean Center of Astrophysics and Associated Technologies
2015-2017: Principal Investigator, FONDECYT
2014-2018: Adjoint researcher, Millennium Institute of Astrophysics
2011-2012: Co-investigator FONDECYT
2007-2010: Principal investigator FONDECYT
2004-2011: Associate researcher, Center for Excellence in Astrophysics FONDAP

Research Stays:

Institute of Astronomy, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Ramón María Aller Observatory, University of Santiago de Compostela
Paris Observatory
National Astronomical Observatory of China
Turin Observatory
European Southern Observatory

Memberships:

Chilean Astronomical Society (SOCHIAS)
International Astronomical Union (IAU)