Curriculum Vitae

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Competences

• Statistical analysis, including Bayesian techniques such as MCMC, Nested Sampling, Machine Learning.
• Experience in dealing with Big Data and Data Mining.
• Advanced programming in Fortran, C, Python (numpy, scipy, matplotlib), IDL.
• Parallel programming in MPI.
• Version control with Git.
• Beginner in MySQL, HTML, CSS.
• Environment: Unix, Linux, MacOS. Scripts in bash.
• Writing and communication, lots of experience with LaTeX.

Experience

Post-doctoral researcher at Universidade de São Paulo

Nov. 2013-present

• Combined data-sets through Bayesian statistics. Developed corresponding codes in Python.
• Analyzed cosmological simulations (containing 10¹⁰ particles) using Python and Fortran.
• Prediction of the number of observable events through Monte-Carlo integration in Python.
• Produced mock data catalogs with Monte-Carlo and analyzed the variation with respect to the probability density distribution.
• Organized a Python Boot Camp.

PhD researcher at Observatoire de Paris

Sept. 2009-Sept. 2013

• Used Bayesian statistics to select an homogeneous subsample from a given sample. Developed a code computing the Bayes factor.
• Realization of the DEUS-FUR simulation on the Curie super-computer (run on 76032 cores, 1.5 Pb of data after treatment). This simulation received multiple awards, including a special Jury award for innovation at BigData Paris 2013.
• Analyzed large datasets (DEUS simulations) using Python and Fortran.
• Lead organizer of the 2010 Elbereth conference.
• Presented talks at international conferences.
• Elected representative of PhD candidates in the laboratory.

Teaching assistant at Observatoire de Paris

Sept. 2010-Sept. 2013

• Created original material to help high school teachers do outreach in cosmology.
• Tutored undergraduate-level students in general astrophysics.
• Presented cosmological exhibits to primary school kids.

High school teacher in Savalou, Benin

Sept. 2008-Jul. 2009

• Assumed physics teaching for 4 classes of between 10 and 70 kids, aged 11 to 15.
• Organized a reproduction of Erathostenes' measurements of the Earth's radius between two primary school classes.

Research project at Princeton University

Feb. 2007-Aug. 2007

• Programmed a 3D parallel self-gravity code in C for an existing software.

Volunteer in the GENEPI organization

Sept. 2005-Jul. 2006

• Gave astronomy classes in prison, adapting to the audience widely varying background in physics and mathematics.
• Participated in debates about the French prison system.

Education

Sept. 2009-Oct. 2013: PhD in Astronomy & Astrophysics at Observatoire de Paris (diploma delivered by Université Paris 7)

Sept. 2007-Jul. 2008: master 2 Summa Cum Laude in Astronomy & Astrophysics at Observatoire de Paris (diploma delivered by Université Paris 11)

Sept. 2005-Aug. 2010: student at École Normale Supérieure de Paris, in Physics, specialisation in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Languages

French (native), English (fluent, professional use), Portuguese (very good, regular use), Spanish (good, occasional use), Fongbe (beginner)

Main publications

1. Balmès & Corasaniti, Bayesian approach to gravitational lens model selection: constraining H0 with a selected sample of strong lenses, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2013, vol. 431
2. Balmès, Rasera, Corasaniti & Alimi, Imprints of dark energy on cosmic structure formation - III. Sparsity of dark matter halo profiles, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2014, vol. 437
3. Abramo, Balmès, Lacasa & Lima, Scaling of the 1-halo terms with bias, 2015, arXiv:1506.02315

A complete list of publications is available here.