Joseph Huehnerhoff
11 92nd Ave SE
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
425.293.4328
jwhueh@gmail.com
http://staff.washington.edu/jwhueh/
http://blogs.uw.edu/jwhueh/
Experience
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Sloan Digital Sky Survey Lead Infrastructure Engineer
January 2014 - Present
– This was a promotion from the previous Telescope Engineer position and includes all those tasks
but with greater management responsibilities and associated increase in scope. – Lead mechanical effort for summer maintenance, including removal / installation / coating of M1 &
M2 (plus much, much more). – Project Lead:
 Wind Baffle Drive System Replacement
 Cartridge Handling Upgrade
 Redesign of guider opto-mechanics and focus mechanism
 Cartridge Laser Mapper Upgrade – Staff Advisor to the AUEG (Astronomy Undergraduate Engineering Group @ University of
Washington) - this is more for the enjoyment of teaching the next generation. – Staff Advisor for the engineering practices of the Manastash Ridge Observatory – Lead Engineer for the Sustainability Upgrade for the Manastash Ridge Observatory
(http://green.uw.edu/csf/project/535) – Remote Upgrades Lead Engineer for ARCSAT (Astrophysical Research Consortium Small Aperture
Telescope) 
Principal Investigator, ARCTIC
October 2013- Present
– Principal Investigator for the Astrophysical Research Consortium Telescope Imaging Camera – Optical design of the focal reducer for increased resolution and field size – Mechanical design of the dewar, shutter, filter wheel, and instrument housing – Integration of the optical, mechanical and software systems – Design, prototype, and manufacture a new style of photometrically accurate shutter (< 1%
differential illumination for exposures > 0.5 seconds)
– Working Engineering Documentation: http://staff.washington.edu/jwhueh/ARCTIC/imager.html
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Telescope Engineer
November 2011- December 2013
– Harvard University, Department of Physics Fellow: Liaison between Harvard University, Smithsonian
Center for Astronomy, and Apache Point Observatory for mechanical, optical, and operational aspects
of implementation of GRIZLI (multi bandpass simultaneous optical imager). – Ability to work well in a team to efficiently implement upgrades and repairs – Guider System Testing and Upgrades: create test setup to determine optical element position, design
hardware to measure fiber coplanarity (tolerances ≤ 0.001”), and design new opto-mechanical
system based on tests. – Design test setup for closed loop cryo-cooler system – Perform complete thermal audit of telescope and ancillary systems – Code and implement new inventory system to easily access spares for critical telescope components
– Design hardware and software for a differential spectrograph to measure throughput of filters
– Code user interface for real time data collection and analysis – Promoted to Lead SDSS Infrastructure Engineer
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Telescope Operations Specialist
September 2009 - November 2011 – Control and monitoring of a complex telescope system – Critical systems management in changing mechanical and environmental systems – Optical/Mechanical analysis of scattered light and baffling – Data reduction and analysis of optical imaging, optical longslit spectra, echelle spectra, IR imaging,
and IR spectra – GUI programming: automated night log, automated telescope scripts, quick data analysis
– Vacuum systems: pumping equipment, sealing, dry leak detector (He)
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Joseph Huehnerhoff
11 92nd Ave SE
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
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425.293.4328
jwhueh@gmail.com
http://staff.washington.edu/jwhueh/
http://blogs.uw.edu/jwhueh/
Summer shutdown engineering tasks including: mirror removal and recoating, motor and encoder
inspection, optical alignment of mirror systems, Primary Mirror Support System inspection,
calibration and repair Design of mounting system for anemometer and wind vane to determine air flow pattern through
dome as well as aid in wind metrology for telescope First surface coated mirror aluminization and cleaning; cleaning of lens optical elements Handling of cryogenic systems such as liquid nitrogen and Cryotiger coolers Systematic test of instrument performance, specifically with the APO Dual Imaging Spectrograph and
SPICam Optical Imager (tests include transfer efficiency, throughput, and the effect, on science
images of PID tuning the cooling system) Use of instruments to assess telescope performance (i.e. collimation, scattered light, throughput) Promoted to Telescope Engineer 
Master Thesis Research
September 2008 – June 2009
– Advisor: Professor Suzanne Hawley, University of Washington
– Characterization and calibration of spectrograph – Instrumentation and design of focal reducing optics for Manastash Ridge Observatory – Construction of all mounting hardware, circuitry, and fiber optic support – Design of focal reducing hardware including: lens housing, filter wheel structural enhancements, and
multi-instrument adapter plates
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Student Assistant Astrophysical Research Consortium
September 2008 - September 2009 – Advisor: Larry Carey, University of Washington – Creation of standardized quality analysis routine for SDSS3 components
– Quality analysis of plug plates before and after machining
– Coding of Coordinate Measuring Machine to perform quality analysis measurements – Use of Solidworks to design support hardware for fiber testing equipment – SDSS 2.5m shutdown maintenance 
Teaching Assistant for Astronomical Observation
Summer Quarter 2008 and 2009 – Advisor: Professor Chris Laws, University of Washington
– Teach the proper techniques for preparing, obtaining, and reducing scientific data – Techniques for operating detectors including sources of error that affect imaging – Use of telescope hardware and control software
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Graduate Research
January 2008 - August 2009
– Advisor: Professor Bruce Balick, University of Washington
– Study kinematic expansion of Planetary Nebula over times scales greater than one decade
– Study of high doppler shift knots called “FLIERS”
– Reduce Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 data
Education
– New Mexico State University
Fall 2012 - Present
Pursuing Masters in Mechanical Engineering → Currently transferring to University of Washington
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University of Washington Master of Science in Physics Completed 2009
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University of Washington Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Physics Completed 2007 2
Joseph Huehnerhoff
11 92nd Ave SE
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
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Skills
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425.293.4328
jwhueh@gmail.com
http://staff.washington.edu/jwhueh/
http://blogs.uw.edu/jwhueh/
Operating Systems: Windows, Unix based OS, Mac OS
Languages: Python, IDL, C(C++), IRAF, Java, LATEX, HTML (including CGI)
Specialized Software: Zemax, Solidworks , NX w/ Nastran, PC-DMIS (Brown and Sharp CMM Software)
Machining: Mill, Lathe, MIG Welding , Drill Press, Band Saw
Achievements and Activities
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2013
Advanced Imaging System Design Using Zemax Course Certification
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2013
2012
2011 - 2012
2012
2011
2007
2006 - 2009
Employee Recognition; New Mexico State University, Department of Astronomy
Brooks Automation Polycold Systems PCC Training Certification
Fellow, Harvard University, Department of Physics
Employee Recognition; New Mexico State University, Department of Astronomy
Employee Recognition; New Mexico State University, Department of Astronomy
John Baer Award for Research; University of Washington, Department of Astronomy
Volunteer Theodor Jacobsen Observatory
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Teaching Experience – Lecturer ASTR597, Methodologies in Instrumentation - Winter 2015
– Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Astronomy - 6 Quarters
– Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Astronomical Observation – 2 Quarters
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Hobbies
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References –
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Photography - expanse dynamic landscape (http://blogs.uw.edu/jwhueh/category/photography/) Automotive Restoration - current project is a ‘77 Ford F150 (http://blogs.uw.edu/jwhueh/category/truck/)
Home Automation - current project is a Flask interface to Insteon home devices
Constance Rockosi, crockosi@ucolick.org. University of California Santa Cruz, SDSS Infrastructure Manager. Suzanne Hawley, slh@astro.washington.edu. University of Washington, Director of the ARC 3.5m Telescope Mark Klaene, mark@apo.nmsu.edu. Apache Point Observatory, Site Manager French Leger, leger@uw.edu. University of Washington, previous SDSS Lead Infrastructure Engineer Dan Long, long@apo.nmsu.edu. Apache Point Observatory, 2.5m Chief Telescope Engineer. Chris Laws, laws@astro.washington.edu. University of Washington, Assistant Director Manastash
Ridge Observatory Papers and Publications
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Full list of co-authored publications
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”The Eleventh and Twelfth Data Releases of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: Final Data from SDSS-III”
[2015arXiv150100963A] (2015) –
”The MaNGA Integral Field Unit Fiber Feed System for the Sloan 2.5 m Telescope” [2015AJ....149...77D] (2015)
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”A Study of the Unusual Z Cam Systems IW Andromedae and V513 Cassiopeia” [2013PASP..125.1421S]
(2013) –
”The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey of SDSS-III” [2013AJ....145...10D] (2013) –
Barentine, John C.; Ketzeback, W. F.; Dembicky, J. M.; Huehnerhoff, J.; McMillan, R.; Saurage, G.;Sheldon, A.;
Coughlin, J.; Ule, N.; Hawley, S.; Schmidt, S.; Wallerstein, G.; Leadbeater, R.; York, D. G. ”Long-Term Optical and
Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Monitoring of εAurigae During the 2009-11 Eclipse” [2012AAS...21943312B]
(2012) 3
Joseph Huehnerhoff
11 92nd Ave SE
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
425.293.4328
jwhueh@gmail.com
http://staff.washington.edu/jwhueh/
http://blogs.uw.edu/jwhueh/
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Ketzeback, William F.; Barentine, J.; Leadbeater, R.; McMillan, R.; Dembicky, J.; Saurage, G.; Huehnerhoff, J.;
Schmidt, S.; Hawley, S.; Wallerstein, G.; Coughlin, J.; York, D. ”Optical and NIR Spectroscopy of ? Aurigae at
Apache Point Observatory, the First Half of the Eclipse” [2011AAS...21725705K] (2011) –
Balick, B; Huehnerhoff, J.; Steffen, M.; Shoenberner, D.; Hajian, A.; Behr, B.B. ”Watching planetary nebulae
grow with HST” [2011apn5.confP..43B] (2011) –
William Ketzeback; John Barentine; Russet McMillan; Jack Dembicky; Gabrelle Saurage; Jeffrey Coughlin; Joe
Huehnerhoff; Sarah Schmidt; George Wallerstein; Suzanne Hawley; Robin Leadbeater “Early results of a highresolution spectroscopic monitoring program of the mysterious eclipsing binary, Epsilon Aurigae, at Apache
Point Observatory” [2010neme.confP...2K] (2011) –
Hilton, Eric J.; Hawley, S.; Ule, N.; Kowalski, A.; Gomez, T.; Grammer, S.; Holtzman, J.; Huang, M.; Huehnerhoff,
J.; Morgan, D. “Flare Rates on M Dwarfs: Observing Program” [2009AAS...21343416H] (2009) –
Huehnerhoff, Joseph; Balick, B. “Observational Changes of Planetary Nebula Over Time”
[2008AAS...212.1304H] (2009) –
Fraser, Oliver J.; Grammer, S. H.; Morgan, D. P.; Welch, A. Z.; Bullock, E. W.; Huehnerhoff, J.; Kalif, M. L.; Maas, R.
W.; Muhs, E.; Ule, N. M.; Hilton, E. J.; Meyer, J.; Laws, C.; Sesar, B.; Ivezic, Z. “Probing Halo Substructure With Rr
Lryae From Multi-epoch Sdss Data” [2007AAS...211.6009F] (2007) 4