Dr. Eli Kunwiji Kasai
Astrophysicist, Data Scientist
CV
Profile & Core Strengths
Profile
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Highly energetic and passionate about Astronomy and Cosmology
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Great deal of experience working in multicultural and interdisciplinary avenues with a high recognition for teamwork skills and leadership potential.
Core Strengths
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Problem solving skills, teamwork skills, analytical thinking, communication skills, multitasking, highly motivated
Work​
experience​
07/2016 - present Lecturer, Department of Physics, University of Namibia (UNAM)
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02/2014 - 06/2015 Tutor and assistant lecturer, NASSP MSc course: Observa- tional Cosmology; DMAM, University of Cape Town (UCT)
02/2013 - 03/2015 Intern (http://www.astro4dev.org/aboutiauoad/oadteam/), International Astronomical Union (IAU, https://www.iau.org/) Global Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD)
07/2011 - 11/2011 1st Year Physics Lab Demonstrator & Tutor, Department of Physics, UCT
07/2011 - 11/2011 1st Year Mathematics Hot Seat Tutor, DMAM, UCT
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10/2006 - 12/2009 Commercial Analyst, Namibia Power Corporation (Pty) Ltd (NamPower)
Duties: Feasibility studies for construction of new power sta- tions; cost-benefit analysis of various options: coal-fired, diesel- fired vs renewable options, i.e. hydro- and wind-powered op- tions; coal tender evaluations; board report compilations; bud- get planning; power sale pricing
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11/2004 - 09/2006 Graduate Energy Trader, NamPower
Duties: Modelling the balance between existing generation and transmission infrastructure and plans of new generation op- tions; investigations of novel electricity load forecasting meth- ods for meeting total electricity demand shortfalls, scheduling daily country-wide demand for power from foreign power utili- ties to meet local shortfall, mostly from SA power utility Eskom
02/2004 - 06/2004 1st Year Physics Lab Demonstrator, Department of Physics, UNAM
Education
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
03/2013 - 12/2017 PhD: Supernova Cosmology, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (DMAM)
Topic: SALT Spectroscopy and Classification of Supernova Spectra using Bayesian Techniques
(https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/27283)
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02/2011 - 06/2013 MSc: National Astrophysics and Space Science Program (NASSP http://www.star.ac.za/, course work and dissertation); DMAM
Topic: The Type Ia Supernova Rate In Intermediate Redshift Galaxy Clusters (https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/6666)
02/2010 - 11/2010 BSc (Hons): NASSP (coursework and mini-dissertation); DMAM
INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
01/2008 - 05/2008 CompTIA Network+
06/2007 - 11/2007 CompTIA A+
UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA
02/2001 - 11/2004 BSc, double major: Mathematics, Physics
NOORDGRENS SECONDARY SCHOOL
01/2000 - 11/2000 Grade 12
Publications
Theses
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Kasai, E, 2013, “The Type Ia Supernova Rate in Intermediate Redshift Galaxy Clusters”, MSc thesis (UCT)
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Kasai, E, 2017, “SALT Spectroscopy and Classification of Supernova Spectra using Bayesian Techniques”, PhD thesis (UCT)
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Papers
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Cartier, R., Kasai, E. K. et al. 2017, “Early observations of the nearby Type Ia supernova SN 2015F".
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Draft/planned papers
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Kasai et al. 2018, “MCSupernova: The first Bayesian Supernova Spectra Classifier”, envisioned to be on the archive (arXiv.org) by the 31st of May 2018;
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Kasai et al. 2018, “Spectral Analysis of DES Type Ia supernovae observed with SALT”, envisioned to be on the archive within the 2nd quarter of 2018
Conference proceedings
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Kasai et al. 2015, “SALT Spectroscopy of 5 DES Type Ia Supernovae”, submitted to the International Science and Technology Journal of Namibia
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Kasai et al. 2015, “SALT Spectroscopy of Dark Energy Survey Supernovae and their Classification”, published in the Proceedings of Science (PoS(SSC2015)022)
ATels
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Kasai, E.; Bassett, B.; Crawford S.; et al.; “Discovery and Classification of DES15S2kqw”, The Astronomer’s Telegram, ATel #8188
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Bassett E.; Kasai, E.; Crawford, S.; et al.; “Discovery and Classification of DES15E1kwg and DES15X3kqv by SALT and AAT”, The Astronomer’s Telegram, ATel #8164
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Kasai, E.; Bassett, B.; Crawford S.; et al.; “Discovery and Classification of DES15C2ir by SALT”, The Astronomer’s Telegram, ATel #7973
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Kasai, E.; Bassett, B.; Crawford S.; et al.; “SALT Classification of DES Supernova Candidates”, The Astronomer’s Telegram, ATel #7031
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Smith, M.; Bassett, B.; Kasai, E.; Crawford, S. M.; et al.; “Spectroscopic Confirmation of DES13X1kae”, The Astronomer's Telegram, ATel #5548
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Smith, M.; Okouma, P.; Bassett, B.; Kasai, E.; Crawford, S. M.; et al.; “Spectroscopic Confirmation of DES13C1feu”, The Astronomer's Telegram, ATel #5463
References
Professor Bruce Bassett (PhD Supervisor)
Professor of Mathematics at UCT, Researcher at AIMS and SAAO,
Tel: +27 21 787 9357/9262, Email: bruce.a.bassett@gmail.com
Dr Steven M. Crawford (PhD co-supervisor)
SALT Science Data Manager SAAO, Phone: +27 (0)21 460 9359
Email: crawford@saao.ac.za
Dr Riaan Steenkamp
Senior Lecturer and HoD: Department of Physics, University of Namibia, Tel: +264 61 206 3673, Email: rsteenkamp@unam.na
Mr Kevin Govender
Director, the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development, Tel: +27 21 460 6297, Email: kg@astro4dev.org
Mr Simson Kahenge Haulofu
Managing Director: Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower), PTY (Ltd).
Tel: +264 61 205 2283/205 4111,Email: simson.haulofu@nampower.com.na