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Dr. Franck Marchis is a senior planetary astronomer and at the Carl Sagan Center of the SETI Institute and Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder at Unistellar. Marchis moved to the United States in October 2000 shortly after getting a Ph.D. from the University of Toulouse in France that he acquired while traveling around the world for his research and for the sake of exploration. Over the past nineteen years, he has dedicated his work to the study of our solar system, specifically the search for asteroids with moons, using mainly ground-based telescopes equipped with adaptive optics (AO). More recently he has been also involved in the definition of new generation of AOs for 8 -10 m class telescopes and future Extremely Large Telescopes. He is currently the collaboration manager of the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey, which consists in imaging and characterizing Jupiter-like exoplanets using an extreme AO system (xAO) designed for the Gemini South telescope.

Marchis is also involved in startups related to science outreach and astronomy, so he joined Unistellar as a Chief Scientific Officer and VR2Planets as a scientific advisor in 2017. Marchis is a member of numerous science committees including, the GPI steering Committee, the TMT Science Definition Team, PLOS One editor board, the Project Blue, the PLANETS Foundation Advisory board, and member of the IAA SETI Permanent Committee since October 2019. He has co-authored more than 380 scientific publications, trained numerous students, and served as a science consultant and interviewee for numerous documentaries and movies in English, French, and Spanish. The asteroid (6639) was named Marchis in honor of his discovery of the first triple-asteroid system in 2007. He has been an affiliated Astronomer at Observatoire de Paris since 2003. Since 2018 Dr. Marchis has also been an associate researcher member of the faculty at Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM) where he contributed to the study of main-belt asteroids. Since 2019 Dr. Marchis has also been an adjunct research fellow and Ph.D. advisor at University of Southern Queensland (USQ).

More information at SETI Institute.

QUALIFICATION SUMMARY

Planetary astronomer with 20 years of experience in academic, international and non–profit scientific institutions. Conducted multiple research projects in a wide range of areas.

• Instrumentation for ground-based telescope with emphasis on adaptive optics (AO) systems.
• Data-processing and analysis of astronomical and fluorescence microscopy images by deconvolution.
• Research studies including search for moons around asteroids and planets around other stars using a wide variety of instruments leading to 112 publications in major journals including Nature and Science.

Science communicator with 16 years of experience. Provided scientific leadership needed to give visibility to technological projects by conducting a coherent and modern outreach and public affairs program.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills. Led international groups of researchers, optimized use of facilities, produced peer-reviewed publications and successfully completed competitive grant proposals.
• Use of modern tools, including blogging, social media, press releases, and web sites to communicate with the public about the excitement of science and technological development.
• Instructed numerous students, organized and taught academic and professional development courses, gave professional and public conference presentations.
• Consultant and interviewee for several science movies and documentaries (e.g. Incoming!, Disaster Playground) for the Science channel, BBC, ARTE and news media in English, French and Spanish.

EDUCATION

• Astrophysics, PhD, Université Paul Sabatier, France, 2000; Dissertation: “High angular resolution imaging of small structures in the solar system: Monitoring of Io volcanic activity”
• Planetary Science, MS, Université Paul Sabatier, France, 1996
• Physical Science, B.Sc., Université Paul Sabatier, France, 1995

RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Unistellar SAS, Chief Scientific Officer & co-founder (June 2017-Present) Citizen Science projects, partnership, data processing and analysis pipeline, communication and outreach
• SETI Institute Chair of the exoplanet Group (Apr. 2015-Present) & Senior Research Scientist at the Carl Sagan Center (Nov. 2012-Present)
  Led instrumentation projects to search and characterize exoplanets and asteroids using large 8m-10m class ground-based telescopes. Developed of science cases and technological infusion path for space-based telescopes. Member of science committee for future ground-based instruments, including giant telescopes & balloon telescopes
• IRIS AO, Senior AO Application scientist    (Mar. 2014 –Jan 2017)
  Broadened the use of IRIS AO MEMS technology in astronomy, biology, and laser industry by developing new tools for new applications related to adaptive optics. Increased sales revenue and customer base by one order of magnitude.

• SETI Institute, Science Outreach Manager of the Carl Sagan Center (Dec. 2013-Nov. 2015) Promote the work of 70 Sagan Center scientists through articles, press releases, and modern social media tools. Spokesperson on behalf the CSC at scientific meetings and conferences.
• SETI Institute, Research Scientist at the Carl Sagan Center (Jul. 2007-Nov. 2012) Conduct international programs to search and characterize satellites of asteroids using space and ground telescopes including the Keck and VLT telescopes. Science cases and requirements for future adaptive optics in development for ground-based telescopes. First MCAO observations of Jupiter with the VLT.
• UC Berkeley, Assistant Research Astronomer at the Astronomy Department (Jun. 2003-Jun. 2011) Deconvolution algorithm (AIDA, MISTRAL) for adaptive optics observations of planetary target. Study and publication of the most energetic eruption ever witnessed on Io, and the discovery of the first triple asteroid.
• UC Berkeley, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Astronomy Department (Nov. 2000-May 2003) Data-processing and analysis of W.M. Keck telescope adaptive optics observations of Io, Titan & Saturn.
• European Southern Observatory, Chile, Ph.D student (Nov. 1998-Sep. 2000) Analysis and peer-reviewed publications of the first adaptive optics observations of Io and Kleopatra with the adaptive optics of the 3.6m telescope at ESO-La Silla, Chile
• European Southern Observatory, Chile, French national service (Jun. 1997-Oct. 1998) 200 nights as a support astronomer at 3.6m telescope of ESO and its AO system, the first offered to the community.
• University College London, UK, Lab Assistant (Jun. 1997-Oct. 1998) Data processing and analysis of Jupiter near-infrared images collected with IRTF
• UNAM, Mexico, Research Assistant (Jul. 1996-Jan. 1997) Study of image quality for large segmented mirror telescopes.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed articles

• Marchis et al. 2016. Large collaboration in observational astronomy: the Gemini Planet Imager exoplanet survey case,
  SPIE Proceeding 9910
• Marchis, et al. 2014. The puzzling mutual orbit of the binary Trojan asteroid (624) Hektor. Ap.J Letter 783
• Marchis et al., 2012. Multiple Asteroid Systems: Dimensions and Thermal Properties from Spitzer Space Telescope and Ground-Based Observations, Icarus 221, 2, 1130-1161
• Marchis et al. 2007. Outstanding Questions and Future Explorations, Chapter for “Io After Galileo” book
• Marchis et al. 2006. A low density of 0.8 g cm-3 for the Trojan binary asteroid 617 Patroclus, Nature, 439, 7076
• Marchis, et al. 2005. Discovery of the Triple Asteroidal System: 87 Sylvia, Nature, 436, 822-824.

Invited articles and talks

• Marchis, Processing and Data Analysis with AO Instruments: Challenges & Perspectives, NOAO Workshop, 2016
• Marchis, Gemini Observatory Adaptive Optics Contributions to Planetary Science,
  Future and Science of Gemini Observatory, 2015
• Marchis, et al. Origami NanoSat Telescopes: Planetary Astronomy’s Future unfolds EPSC, London, UK, 2013
• Marchis, et al. Quantitative solar system science with AO systems, Adaptive Optics Systems III.
  Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 8447, id. 84470C-84470C-11, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sep 2012
• Marchis, Binary and Multiple Asteroids, McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 2011.
• Marchis, Planetary science in the Eyes of the Giant Telescopes,
  Feeding the Giants Workshop, Ischia, Italy, August 29- September 2 2011

COMMITTEES

• Thirty-Meter Telescope International Science Definition Team for Solar System since Oct. 2013
• PLOS ONE Journal editor board member since Feb. 2013
• Member of several ground-based instrumentation science teams, including ERIS, the ESO next generation AO system since 2011, NGAO the Keck next generation AO since 2006 and Gemini Planet Imager since 2003
• Session convener at the AGU Fall Meeting on asteroids and comets’ interior and Earth-like exoplanet imaging and habitability since 2011

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Recipient of the 2004 Grants in Honor of Professor Henri Chretien
• Asteroid (6639) named Marchis in honor of his discovery of the first triple asteroid system in 2007
• Affiliated Astronomer at Observatoire de Paris since 2003, NASA badge holder since 2009, Visiting Scholar at USC since 2009

AFFILIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS

• Division for planetary sciences of the American Astrophysical Society since 2000
• American Geophysical Union since 2003 & American Astronomical Society since 2009
• Union of Concerned Scientists since 2014 & SPIE since 2015
• International Astronomical Union since 2015
• Scientific Advisor at VR2Planets and Nelly Ben Hayoun Studio

July to September, 2022 Q3

• Barbosa, Domingos; Coelho, Bruno; Bergano, Miguel; Magalhães, Catarina; Mendonça, David; et al. including Esposito, Thomas M.; Marchis, F.; (2022). Cyber-Cosmos: A new citizen science concept in a dark sky destination, Acta Astronautica, Volume 200, Special Issue for the 72nd IAC, Dubai, 2021 – Part 3, 612-619 pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.09.008

April to June, 2022 Q2

• Ferrais, M. ; Jorda, L. ; Vernazza, P. ; Carry, B. ; Brož, M. ; et al. including Marchis, F. ; (2022). M-type (22) Kalliope: A tiny Mercury, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 662, id.A71, 18 pp. https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2022/06/aa43200-22/aa43200-22.html

January to March, 2022 Q1

• Dalba, Paul A. ; Kane, Stephen R. ; Dragomir, Diana ; Villanueva, Steven ; Collins, Karen A. ; et al. including Esposito, Thomas M. ; Marchis, Franck ; (2022). The TESS-Keck Survey. VIII. Confirmation of a Transiting Giant Planet on an Eccentric 261 Day Orbit with the Automated Planet Finder Telescope, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 163, Issue 2, id.61, 17 pp. https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.04146

• Brož, M. ; Ďurech, J. ; Carry, B. ; Vachier, F. ; Marchis, F. ; et al. (2022). Observed tidal evolution of Kleopatra’s outer satellite, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 657, id.A76, 10 pp. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202142055

• Buie, Marc W. ; Keeney, Brian A. ; Strauss, Ryder H. ; Blank, Ted E. ; Moore, John G. ; et al. including Marchis, F. ; (2021) Size and Shape of (11351) Leucus from Five Occultations, Planet. Sci. J. 2 202, https://t.co/ppDA7ifJZI, (09/24/2021)

October to December, 2021 Q4

• Brož, M. ; Ďurech, J. ; Carry, B. ; Vachier, F. ; Marchis, F. ; (2021). Observed tidal evolution of Kleopatra’s outer satellite, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Earth and Planetary Astrophysics eprint arXiv:2110.12702, https://arxiv.org/abs/2110.12702

• Buie, Marc W. ; Keeney, Brian A. ; Strauss, Ryder H. ; Blank, Ted E. ; Moore, John G. ; et al. including Marchis, Franck ; O’Conner Peluso, Daniel ; (2021). Size and Shape of (11351) Leucus from Five Occultations, The Planetary Science Journal, Volume 2, Issue 5, id.202, 38 pp. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/PSJ/ac1f9b

• Dalba, Paul A. ; Kane, Stephen R. ; Li, Zhexing ; MacDougall, Mason G. ; Rosenthal, Lee J. ; et al. including Peluso, Dan O. ; Esposito, Thomas M. ; Marchis, Franck ; (2021). Giant Outer Transiting Exoplanet Mass (GOT ‘EM) Survey. II. Discovery of a Failed Hot Jupiter on a 2.7 Yr, Highly Eccentric Orbit, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 162, Issue 4, id.154, 21 pp. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ac134b

July to September, 2021 Q3

• Marchis, F.; Jorda, L.; Vernazza, P.; Brož, M.; Hanuš, J.; et al. (2021). (216) Kleopatra, a low density critically rotating M-type asteroid, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 653, id.A57, 25 pp. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202140874

• Brož, M.; Marchis, F.; Jorda, L.; Hanuš, J.; Vernazza, P.; et al. (2021). An advanced multipole model for (216) Kleopatra triple system, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 653, id.A56, 9 pp. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202140901

April to June, 2021 Q2

• Carry, B.; Vernazza, P.; Vachier, F.; Neveu, M.; Berthier, J.; et al. including Marchis, F.; (2021). Evidence for differentiation of the most primitive small bodies, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 650, id.A129, 15 pp. https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2021/06/aa40342-21/aa40342-21.html

• Brož, M.; Marchis, F.; Jorda, L.; Hanuš, J.; Vernazza, P.; et al. (2021). An advanced multipole model for (216) Kleopatra triple system, Astrophysics – Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, 10 pp. https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.09134

January to March, 2021 Q1 

• Carry, B.; Vernazza, P.; Vachier, F.; Neveu, M.; Hanus, J. Berthier J.; et al. including Marchis, F.; (2021). Evidence for differentiation of the most primitive small bodies, Astrophysics – Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, eprint arXiv:2103.06349, https://arxiv.org/pdf/2103.06349.pdf

• Ward-Duong, K.; Patience, J.; Follette, K.; De Rosa, R. J.; Rameau, J.; et al. including Esposito T.M.; Kalas, P.; Marchis, F.; (2021). Gemini Planet Imager Spectroscopy of the Dusty Substellar Companion HD 206893 B, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 161, Issue 1, id.5, 24 pp., https://arxiv.org/pdf/2010.10546.pdf

October to December, 2020 Q4

• Dudziński, G.; Podlewska-Gaca, E.; Bartczak, P.; Benseguane, S.; Ferrais, M.; et al. including Marchis, F.; (10/2020). Published abstract of 10/14 journal article: “Volume uncertainty of (7) Iris shape models from disc-resolved images” from Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 499, Issue 3, pp.4545-4560, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020MNRAS.499.4545D/doi:10.1093/mnras/staa3153 

July to September, 2020 Q3

• Yang, B.; Hanuš, J.; Carry, B.; Vernazza, P.; Brož, M.; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (09/2020). Binary asteroid (31) Euphrosyne: ice-rich and nearly spherical★, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 641, id.A80, 9 pp. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020A&A…641A..80Y/doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202038372

• Arriaga, Pauline; Fitzgerald, Michael P.; Duchêne, Gaspard; Kalas, Paul; Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell A.; et al. including Esposito, Thomas M.; Marchis, Franck; (08/2020). Multiband Polarimetric Imaging of HR 4796A with the Gemini Planet Imager, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 160, Issue 2, id.79, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020AJ….160…79A/doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab91b1

• Chen, Christine; Mazoyer, Johan; Poteet, Charles A.; Ren, Bin; Duchêne, Gaspard; et al. including Esposito, Thomas M.; Marchis, Franck; (07/2020). Multiband GPI Imaging of the HR 4796A Debris Disk, The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 898, Issue 1, id.55,
  https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020ApJ…898…55C/doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ab9aba

• Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell A.; Esposito, Thomas M.; Kalas, Paul; Fitzgerald, Michael P.; Duchêne, Gaspard; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (06/2020). Debris Disk Results from the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey’s Polarimetric Imaging Campaign, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 160, Issue 1, id.24, 44 pp. (2020)
  https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020AJ….160…24E/doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab9199

April to June, 2020 Q2

• Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell A.; Esposito, Thomas M.; Kalas, Paul; Fitzgerald, Michael P.; Duchêne, Gaspard; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (06/2020). Debris Disk Results from the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey’s Polarimetric Imaging Campaign, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 160 No. 1, doi https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ab9199 

• Duchêne, Gaspard; Rice, Malena; Hom, Justin; Zalesky, Joseph; Esposito, Thomas M.; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (06/2020). The Gemini Planet Imager View of the HD 32297 Debris Disk, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 159, Issue 6, doi https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020AJ….159..251D/doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab8881 

• Nguyen, Meiji M.; De Rosa, Robert J.; Wang, Jason J.; Esposito, Thomas M.; Kalas, Paul; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (06/2020). HD 165054: An Astrometric Calibration Field for High-contrast Imagers in Baade’s Window, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 159, Issue 6, doi https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020AJ….159..244N/doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab86aa 

• Zellem, Robert T.; Pearson, Kyle A.; Blaser, Ethan; Fowler, Martin; Ciardi, David R.; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (05/2020). Utilizing Small Telescopes Operated by Citizen Scientists for Transiting Exoplanet Follow-up, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Volume 132, doi https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020PASP..132e4401Z/doi:10.1088/1538-3873/ab7ee7 

• Moskovitz, Nicholas A.; Benson, Conor James; Scheeres, Daniel; Endicott, Thomas; Polishook, David; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (04/2020). Observational investigation of the 2013 near-Earth encounter by asteroid (367943) Duende, Icarus, Volume 340, doi https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020Icar..34013519M/doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.113519 

January to March, 2020 Q1

• Marsset, Michaël; Brož, Miroslav; Vernazza, Pierre; Drouard, Alexis; Castillo-Rogez, Julie; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (02/2020). The violent collisional history of aqueously evolved (2) Pallas, Nature: Astronomy, Advanced Online Publication, doi:10.1038/s41550-019-1007-5, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020NatAs.tmp…24M/doi:10.1038/s41550-019-1007-5

• Vernazza, P.; Jorda, L.; Ševeček, P.; Brož, M.; Viikinkoski, M.; et al. including Marchis, F.; (02/2020). A basin-free spherical shape as an outcome of a giant impact on asteroid Hygiea, Nature: Astronomy, Volume 4, pages 136-141, doi:10.1038/s41550-019-0915-8, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020NatAs…4..136V/doi:10.1038/s41550-019-0915-8

• Nielsen, Eric L.; De Rosa, Robert J.; Wang, Jason J.; Sahlmann, Johannes; Kalas, Paul; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (02/2020). The Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey: Dynamical Mass of the Exoplanet β Pictoris b from Combined Direct Imaging and Astrometry, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 159 (issue 2), 29 Pages, 23 Figures, doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab5b92, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020AJ….159…71N/doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab5b92

• Bruzzone, Juan Sebastián; Metchev, Stanimir; Duchêne, Gaspard; Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell A.; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (02/2020). Imaging the 44 au Kuiper Belt Analog Debris Ring around HD 141569A with GPI Polarimetry, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 159 (issue 2), 13 pages, doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab5d2e, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020AJ….159…53B/doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab5d2e

• Gaudi, B. Scott; Seager, Sara; Mennesson, Bertrand; Kiessling, Alina; Warfield, Keith; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (01/2020). The Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx) Mission Concept Study Final Report, 498 pages, arXiv:2001.06683, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020arXiv200106683G/arxiv:2001.06683

• Hom, Justin; Patience, Jennifer; Esposito, Thomas M.; Duchêne, Gaspard; Worthen, Kadin; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (01/2020). First Resolved Scattered-light Images of Four Debris Disks in Scorpius-Centaurus with the Gemini Planet Imager, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 159 (issue 1), 16 pages, doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab5af2, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020AJ….159…31H/doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab5af2

• De Rosa, Robert J.; Nielsen, Eric L.; Wang, Jason J.; Ammons, S. Mark; Duchêne, Gaspard; et al. including Marchis, Franck; (01/2020). An Updated Visual Orbit of the Directly Imaged Exoplanet 51 Eridani b and Prospects for a Dynamical Mass Measurement with Gaia, The Astronomical Journal, Volume 159 (issue 1), 14 pages, arXiv:1910.10169, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2020AJ….159….1D/arxiv:1910.10169

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