Katie Smither Email & Phone Number

Hilo, Hi, Us

Hilo, Hawai'I / La Serena, Chile

Currently based at Gemini North Telescope on Maunakea in Hawai'i. Responsible for maintenance and cleaning of optical and instrument systems, coating facilities, coating metrology, and operations at NOIRLab centers, including 2 years based in La Serena, Chile maintaining optical components, instrument systems, and coating facilities on-site at CTIO and Gemini South and occasional support of instruments and optical coating projects at KPNO in Tucson, Arizona. Examples of opto-mechanical projects include the re-coating of the large optics at WIYN 3.5m, GS M1, GN M1, and worked as member of the GN M1 Repair team. Frequent instrument maintenance includes troubleshooting moving component stages, cleaning of delicate instrument optical assemblies including CaF and NaCl lenses, alignment of bench instrumentation, and maintenance of facility products such as the Toptica SodiumStar LGSF.

Hawai'I

Summit day crew. Maintenance and handling of large optics, adaptive optics, and laser guide star systems.Maintenance of segmented primary mirror systems, including: acid stripping, cleaning, coating, and segment exchange. Routine CO2 cleaning of large optics. Facilitate completion of the segment repair project, including: photography, application of First Contact, and preparing segments for transport.Responsible for Toptica LGS system alignment and readiness on laser nights. Assist in upgrades to the LGS system, including fiber cleaning and splicing, installation of laser system components and beam train hardware. Respond to maintenance needs on the AO bench, including stage troubleshooting and alignment.

Mcdonald Observatory, Tx

Maintenance of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope opto-mechanical systems, especially the segmented primary mirror, including:Acid stripping, cleaning, coating, and routine installation of the 91 glass segments; routine mechanical maintenance on mirror segment supports; maintenance of segment alignment system hardware; upgrades to aging opto-mechanical systems; metrology; routine CO2 mirror cleaning and system maintenance; routine use of boom lifts, multi-ton cranes, and lifting fixtures. Fall protection competent person. Mirror lab database and record management.Instrument installation and maintenance including IFU deployment, cleaning, and routine vacuum maintenance of multi-unit spectrograph, VIRUS.

Marfa, Tx

Planning and teaching arts and astronomy coursework for 1st through High School with MSA’s SITES program at Marfa Independent School District. Organized and expanded programming and grant funding for courses as needed. Organized the Marfa Robotics Team visit to use the LCOGT Network Telescope and tour McDonald Observatory, among other projects.

Marfa, Tx

Apprentice welder. Perform tasks assigned by Lead Welder, including: setting up welding systems; heavy lifting and relocation of material; metal prep including: cutting, grinding, cleaning, tack welding and final welds. Used primarily MIG welder with flux-cored wire. Introduced to stick welding. Work at height.

Austin, Texas Area

Interfacing with researchers and visitors to the library and archive; entering collection data; guiding researchers in using databases and collection materials; reference tasks; answering research inquiries by email and phone; handling archival materials using cleanroom garb and approved chemicals; performing basic conservation of archive materials; curatorial research.