Rene A. Mendez

Full Professor

Education and Contact

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

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

Area of Interest

Galactic Structure: Stellar Kinematics & Dynamics The Solar Neighborhood Binary and Multiple Stellar Systems Astrometry, Interferometry, and Photometry Advanced Statistical Techniques

Biography

Rene A. Mendez specializes in stellar astrophysics and studies of stellar populations in the Milky Way, using computational models and high-precision astrometric measurement techniques to address various problems of astrophysical interest. These techniques include 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 determination. He is also interested in the use of statistical tools from information and decision theory for the analysis of astronomical data, especially the astrometry and photometry of point sources and moving sources using solid-state detectors.

Education:

Postdoctoral Researcher 1998-2000: Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, La Serena, Chile

Postdoctoral Fellow 1996-1997: European Southern Observatory, Munich, Germany

Postdoctoral Researcher 1995: Department of Astronomy, Yale University, USA

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

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

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

Employment Summary:

2018-present: Master's Program Faculty Member, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Universidad de Chile.

2004-present: Professor, Department of Astronomy (DAS), Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Universidad de Chile.

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

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

Courses, projects, recent publications

Website www.das.uchile.cl/~rmendez/

Research profile: Google Scholar

Current statistics: Web of Science – Publons, ORCID

Expert reviewer 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, and 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, and Summer School (Astronomy – high school).

Graduate courses: Galactic Astronomy, Advanced Research Workshop, Research Seminar, and Thesis Work.

Theses:

J. Carillo, Master’s in Astronomy, ongoing
D. González, Ph.D. in Astronomy, ongoing
C. Rojas, Ph.D. in Astronomy, ongoing
C. Caballero, Master’s in Astronomy, ongoing.
M. Vega, Master’s in Astronomy, 2024.
J. Anguita-Agüero, Master’s in Astronomy, 2023.
M. Videla, Master’s in Electrical Engineering, 2021.
F. Cordova, Master’s in Electrical Engineering, 2021.
C. Villegas, Master’s in Electrical Engineering, 2020.
R. Clavería, Master’s in Electrical Engineering, 2017.
M. Radiszcz, Ph.D. in Astronomy, 2010.
C. Moni-Bidin, Ph.D. in Astronomy, 2009.

Administration:

2024-2026: Member of the Science and Technology Advisory Committee, Gemini-South.
2024-2026: Elected Member of the Special Nominating Committee, International Astronomical Union.
2022-present: Member of the Mid-Scale Observatories Users Committee, NOIRLab.
2022-present: Alternate Member representing Universidad de Chile at AURA.
2022 Chair of the Vera Rubin (LSST) Fund Implementation Committee.
2021-2023: Elected Member, International Astronomical Union, Commission 1.
2020-2022: Elected Member, Department of Astronomy Council.
2017 – 2023: Member of the Telescope Time Allocation Committee for GEMINI-South (ANID).
2016 – 2022: Science Seminar Coordinator, DAS.
2011-2013: Director of DAS and Director of UMI-LFCA (CNRS).
2010-2011: Deputy Director of DAS.
2008-2011: Member of the ALMA-CONICYT Fund Council.
2004-2011: Head of Undergraduate Studies, DAS.
2004-present: Representative of the National Astronomical Observatory, as the 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 Project / 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: Adjunct Researcher, Millennium Institute of Astrophysics
2011-2012: Co-Investigator, FONDECYT
2007-2010: Principal Investigator, FONDECYT
2004-2011: Associate Researcher, FONDAP Center of Excellence in Astrophysics

Research Visits

Astronomy Department, University of Virginia
Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO)
European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Institute of Astronomy, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics & Technology (NIAOT)
National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC)
Paris Observatory
Ramon Maria Aller Observatory, University of Santiago de Compostela
San Pedro Martir Observatory
Turin Observatory
West China Normal University

Memberships

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