Joris Blommaert

Senior Researcher at the Remote Sensing department, VITO

Leuven, Flemish Region, Belgium

About

Calibration scientist and principal investigator for several scientific instruments on astronomical and earth observation satellites. Main focus is on the radiometric and spectral calibration of the instruments. My newest projects concern the development of Thermal Infrared cameras. One development is for a constellation of cubesats to monitor the Earth's surface temperature. Another is for ESA's Hera mission to the Didymos asteroid binary. My astronomical research focuses on the evolution and mass loss process of evolved stars. I also have a strong interest in the Galactic Bulge stellar population study. I teach astronomy at the VUB in Brussels.

Experience

  • Senior Researcher at VITO, Flemish Institute for Technological Research
    Dec 2013 - Present · 12 yrs 8 mos

    Development of a Thermal IR camera for satellite remote sensing. Radiometric and spectral calibration of a hyperspectral imaging instrument for earth observation.

  • Professor of Astronomy (part-time) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    Oct 2012 - Present · 13 yrs 10 mos

    Astronomical research and teaching an introductory course on astrophysics

  • Senior Researcher at KU Leuven
    Oct 2001 - Nov 2013 · 12 yrs 2 mos

  • Resident Astronomer at European Space Agency
    1998 - Sep 2001 · 3 yrs 9 mos

  • ISOCAM Calibration Scientist at Serco
    1995 - 1998 · 3 yrs