Dan F-M
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Dan F-M
@dfm.io
Retired computational astrophysicist
Interpretability at Anthropic; prev Google DeepMind, Simons Foundation, Journal of Open Source Software
(he/him)

https://dfm.io // https://github.com/dfm
Reposted by Dan F-M
We're hiring Flatiron Research Fellows & Software Fellows at the @flatironinstitute.org CCA. These independent postdoc positions offer outstanding opportunities for collaboration, computation, and scientific growth in NYC: apply.interfolio.com/173402 apply.interfolio.com/173403
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
September 15, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Now that I don’t work in astro research anymore (and because I’m on parental leave), it is time to retire from @joss-openjournals.bsky.social. It’s been an amazing 5 years supporting open source software in academic astrophysics, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for JOSS!
July 15, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by Dan F-M
Applications are open for #FlatironCCA's 2025-2026 Pre-Doctoral Program. Participants will collaborate with scientists on a project complementary to their thesis for 4.5 months at the Flatiron Institute. Stage 1 applications due 3/14: www.simonsfoundation.org/flatiron-ins... #science #astrophysics
Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Astrophysics Pre-Doctoral Program
Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Astrophysics Pre-Doctoral Program on Simons Foundation
www.simonsfoundation.org
February 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Reposted by Dan F-M
Hey bluesky! Do you want to develop your own open-source software in Python? Apply to attend Code/Astro!

Website: semaphorep.github.io/codeastro/
Scroll all the way down for the application link. :) Apps are due Feb 1! (1/2)
Program Description
A Software Engineering Workshop for Astronomy
semaphorep.github.io
January 4, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Now that I write code as a full-time job, I didn't think I would do adventofcode.com this year, but I couldn't stop myself. I just finished collecting all the stars, and it was great fun as always! Thanks for the fun ride, @was.tl!
Advent of Code 2024
adventofcode.com
December 25, 2024 at 12:29 PM
When my kid was born, we were gifted all of those "Science X for Babies" books (IYKYK), and at 1.5 he has decided that they are the only books we ever read just to spite us…

At least he reaches for "Bayesian Probability" more frequently than "Astrophysics", proving that he's my child! 🤣
December 8, 2024 at 10:59 PM
Reposted by Dan F-M
We @flatironinstitute.org are hiring a research scientist (open rank) at the CCA! Our priority areas are (1) plasma, (2) cosmological surveys, (3) stellar theory, (4) machine learning in astro, and (5) software & statistical techniques for astro. Reach out if yr interested!
🔭
aas.org/jobregister/...
Research Scientist (Open Rank), Center for Computational Astrophysics | American Astronomical Society
Position Summary The Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA) is advertising an open-rank search for research scientists to join the Flatiron Institute at the Simons Foundation. The advertised posi...
aas.org
November 26, 2024 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by Dan F-M
Prompted by this and a need for distraction I Did Some Math. Turns out most extrasolar planets are quite cauliflower-compatible. A thread, with citations. And laboratory astrophysics. And footnotes.
What I want from Bluesky
December 1, 2024 at 10:21 PM
Some news: in a few weeks I'll be leaving the Flatiron Institute to join Google DeepMind where I'll be working on the JAX core dev team.

It's bittersweet to leave astro which (for better or worse) has defined much of my identity for the past 15 years, but I'm excited about new adventures!
April 11, 2024 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Dan F-M
Thrilled to announce an event I've long been thinking about! Join us at Yale University for a "Hack Day Conference," in which a group of educators come together to build resources and exercises for teaching research methods in astronomy. See astrocodex.github.io for more.
March 5, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Dan F-M
Delighted to announce that the inaugural New York Area Exoplanets Meeting (NYAEM) will take place at the Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA) on May 30th, 2024! Abstract submission is open until April 5th, & registration until May 1st.

Find more information here: nyexoplanets.github.io 🔭🪐🧪
March 4, 2024 at 3:45 PM
Reposting for the weekday crowd!
dfm.io Dan F-M @dfm.io · Feb 24
Applications are open for the pre-doc program at the CCA!

This program is for current astro grad students to come visit NYC for 5 months and collaborate with a CCA scientist on a research project. I ❤️ this program so much!!

Please apply and/or share!

www.simonsfoundation.org/flatiron-ins...
February 26, 2024 at 3:41 PM
I'm not on the astro lists here... Please share this there if you are. Thanks!
dfm.io Dan F-M @dfm.io · Feb 24
Applications are open for the pre-doc program at the CCA!

This program is for current astro grad students to come visit NYC for 5 months and collaborate with a CCA scientist on a research project. I ❤️ this program so much!!

Please apply and/or share!

www.simonsfoundation.org/flatiron-ins...
February 24, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Applications are open for the pre-doc program at the CCA!

This program is for current astro grad students to come visit NYC for 5 months and collaborate with a CCA scientist on a research project. I ❤️ this program so much!!

Please apply and/or share!

www.simonsfoundation.org/flatiron-ins...
February 24, 2024 at 1:17 PM
just found a jar of jam in our cupboard with a best before date of Feb 2020. that jam really is from a different era!
February 19, 2024 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Dan F-M
Are you an astronomer or aspiring astronomer wanting to improve your software engineering skills? Applications for Code/Astro 2024 are open! More info at semaphorep.github.io/codeastro/. Application is linked at the bottom of that page. Apply by Feb 16!
January 18, 2024 at 12:55 AM
Today's #AdventOfCode is coming for your Large Scale Structure research program! adventofcode.com/2023/day/11
December 11, 2023 at 3:43 PM
adventofcode.com starts on Friday! 🚀

Advent of Code is a daily coding challenge Dec 1-25 that is fun in ways that I can't totally put my finger on. I normally use it as a way to learn a new language, but with a 5-month-old, I'm sticking to Rust again this time around: github.com/dfm/adventof...
GitHub - dfm/adventofcode: Holiday hacking because I'm a nerd
Holiday hacking because I'm a nerd. Contribute to dfm/adventofcode development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 27, 2023 at 7:14 PM
I assume everyone deals with burnout by switching to a new code editor, right? [I'm going back to vim (actually neovim) after a few years in vscode land…]
November 12, 2023 at 5:55 PM
My tutorial demonstrating how to implement custom C++ and CUDA ops for JAX (jax.readthedocs.io) was horribly out of date, but thanks to a few PRs it is now up to date with the current best practices: github.com/dfm/extendin...
GitHub - dfm/extending-jax: Extending JAX with custom C++ and CUDA code
Extending JAX with custom C++ and CUDA code. Contribute to dfm/extending-jax development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 3, 2023 at 6:42 PM
Over at JOSS (joss.theoj.org) we're looking to recruit more editors in all areas! Check out the blog post for more info, and I'd be very happy to chat: blog.joss.theoj.org/2023/10/call...
Call for editors | Journal of Open Source Software Blog
Blog for the Journal of Open Source Software • <a href='https://joss.theoj.org'>https://joss.theoj.org</a>
blog.joss.theoj.org
October 9, 2023 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by Dan F-M
super exciting that a potential 3rd transit of the elusive young planet V1298 Tau e was captured with CHEOPS, yielding a best-fit period of ~45 days!

p.s. this is why I publish all data & models on GitHub, Zenodo, and use showyourwork! when publishing in AAS Journals
September 26, 2023 at 3:34 PM
🤯
Honestly, I could make an entire account dedicated purely to matplotlib tips that I've picked up over the years 😂 🔭

For instance: ax.set is SO MUCH EASIER than setting parameters one by one:
September 20, 2023 at 10:22 AM
Speaking of hiring… don't forget about these two long-term astronomical software development roles with a deadline of Dec 1!
dfm.io Dan F-M @dfm.io · Aug 11
🚨 Awesome job(s!) alert!! 🚨

The Center for Computational Astrophysics is hiring two software engineers to work on supporting community software projects (& other fun things)!

Check out @adrian.pw's thread for more info & please share with anyone who might be interested.

I'd be happy to chat!!
The CCA is hiring two full-time research software engineers! Each position will have a focus on supporting a community software project (Astropy or MESA) along with other research and software projects that align with the interests of CCA researchers. Links to follow:
September 20, 2023 at 12:56 AM
We're hiring postdoc fellowship positions at the Center for Computational Astrophysics!

3 year FRF: apply.interfolio.com/132546
5 year FSRF (focus on software development): apply.interfolio.com/132547

This is a great place to work & these are awesome jobs! Please share & reach out with questions!!
September 20, 2023 at 12:51 AM