Diglio A. Simoni

Computational Scientist

(315) 383-6643

Summary of Professional Experience

Diglio Simoni provides leading-edge computational solutions for commercial and government research clients. He utilizes technologically advanced methodologies, including parallel and distributed processing, advanced visualization techniques, and web-based solutions for the design and implementation of a wide variety of projects in scientific and financial data manipulation and electronic document management, including back-end database system design and connectivity for real-time transactions, specification and analysis of bandwidth requirements, and the design and implementation of efficient user interfaces.

Interests

Psychophysical Research and Education. Nonlinear Dynamical Systems. Theoretical and Computational Neurobiology. Visual Neuroscience and Psychophysics. Neuromorphic Engineering. Computational Models of Visual Function. Applications of Vision Science to Imaging Technology and Computer Vision. Electronic Commerce. Telelearning and Distance Education. Intelligent Agents. Multiserver Applications. Concurrent Computation. Parallel Languages. Object Oriented Parallel and Distributed Processing Systems. Virtual Reality for Scientific Visualization.

Education

Computer Skills

Professional Experience

2005 to date                  RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC.

                                    Senior High Performance Computing Scientist. Provides leading-edge computational support for scientific needs in high-performance computing, including the design and development of advanced visualization tools and the parallelization of large agent-based simulation codes for the Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (MIDAS) project (NIGMS/NIH). Serve as lead architect for the Virtual Tissue Repository component of the Informatics Support Center for Breast and Colon Cancer Family Registries project (NCI/NIH). Task involves the inception, design, development, and deployment of a large biomedical image repository for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) breast and colon cancer research community. Inventor of CAT personalized search assistant technologies and Copycat eye-tracking based models of active visual search performance.

1997 to 2005                 Advanced Computational Research, Baldwinsville, NY/Raleigh, NC.

                                    Principal Consultant. Provided leading-edge computational solutions for commercial and government research clients. Utilized technologically advanced methodologies, including parallel and distributed processing, advanced visualiza­tion techniques, and Internet-based solutions for the design and implementation of a wide variety of projects in scientific and financial data manipulation, electronic document management, including back-end database system design and connectivity for real-time transactions, specification and analysis of bandwidth requirements and the design, and implementation of efficient user interfaces. Platforms/Hardware: Sun (Solaris), DEC (Ultrix), HP (HP-UX), PC (Windows 95, Windows NT, Linux), SGI (Irix).

1998 to 2002                 YellowBrix, Inc., Alexandria, VA.

                                    Information Scientist. Developed advanced neural network and other AI methodologies for categorizing information stored on web-accessible object-oriented databases. Performed core development on content management and Natural Language Processing tasks. Developed and implemented e-commerce and advanced personalization strategies and methodologies. Platforms/Hardware: Sun UltraSparc (Solaris), PC (Windows 95, Linux), BigIP. Languages/Software: C, C++, Perl, Java, JavaScript, TCL, HTML, XML; Oracle DBMS, ODI ObjectStore, HTTP servers (Netscape, Apache, IIS).

1997 to 1998                 Adecco, Alexandria, VA.

                                    Senior Consultant. Provided leading-edge computational solutions for commercial and government research clients. Internet-based solutions for the design and implementation of a wide variety of projects in scientific and financial data manipulation, electronic document management, including back-end database system design and connectivity for real-time transactions, specification and analysis of bandwidth requirements and the design and implementation of efficient user interfaces. Platforms/Hardware: Sun UltraSparc (Solaris), PC (Windows 95, Linux), BigIP. Languages/Software: C, C++, Perl, Java, JavaScript, TCL, HTML, XML; Oracle DBMS, ODI ObjectStore, HTTP servers (Netscape, Apache, IIS).

1995 to 1997                 Digital Lagoon Ltd., Lenexa, KS.

                                    Director of Internet Research and Development. Designed and developed custom integrated Internet-based solutions for business customers. Designed and developed leading-edge ORDBMS-based systems for distance education, customer tracking, sales support, and training. Managed remote access services. Conducted research in advanced navigation tools for information management on distributed databases. Designed and implemented mission-critical commerce solutions for virtual storefronts. Platforms/Hardware: SGI Indy, SGI Challenge-S (Irix), Sun SparcStation (Solaris), PC (Windows 95, Windows NT), Macintosh (MacOS). Languages/Software: C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Perl, HTML, VRML, Pascal, Visual Basic; Oracle DBMS, Informix Illustra ORDBMS (DataBlades), IIS 3.0, Cybercash, Cold Fusion, HTTP servers (Apache, Netscape Commerce).

1994 to 1995                 VA Medical Center/SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse, NY.

                                    Research Fellow at the Laboratory of Neurophysiology. Developed and analyzed advanced computational and mathematical models of the neural dynamics of attentional mechanisms in macaque LGN and visual area V4. Performed parametric studies of highly dimensional highly nonlinear excitatory/inhibitory feedback neural systems. Platforms/Hardware: DECstation (Ultrix), SGI Onyx (Irix), IBM RS-6000 (AIX), PC (Windows 95), Thinking Machines Connection Machine 5 (CM OS). Languages/Software: C (C*), Fortran (CMFortran); Advanced Visualization System (AVS), Matlab, Mathematica.

1994 to 1995                 Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

                                    Teaching Assistant for the Department of Physics. Designed, developed, and presented WWW/High Performance Computing computer laboratories. Platforms/Hardware: DECstation (Ultrix), SGI Indigo (Irix), PC (Windows 95), Macintosh (MacOS). Languages/Software: C, Perl, Java, HTML, VRML, TCL/TK; Adobe Photoshop, CERN HTTP servers.

1994                             Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

                                    Research Assistant for the Department of Psychology. Conducted collaborative research in neural models of mechanisms of visuo-cognitive aging. Designed parallel machine implementations of advanced computational models of motion perception. Platforms/Hardware: DECstation (Ultrix), SGI Indy (Irix), IBM RS-6000 (AIX), Thinking Machines Connection Machine 5 (CM OS), PC (Windows 3.1), Macintosh (MacOS). Languages/Software: C, (C*), Perl, TCL/TK, Fortran (CMFortran); Advanced Visualization System (AVS), Matlab, Mathematica.

1992                             NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA.

                                    Research Fellow, Numerical Aerodynamics Simulation Facility. Designed and implemented Virtual Environment tools for flow visualization as part of the Virtual Wind tunnel project. Developed a Content Addressable Memory-based system for robust static gesture recognition. Platforms/Hardware: SGI Skywriter (Irix),Fake Space BOOM, VPL DataGlove, Ascension Flock of Birds Position Tracker. Languages/Software: C, C++, Perl, GL (OpenGL); X Windows (Motif), NASA FAST.

1991 to 1995                 Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

                                    Research Fellow at the Northeast Parallel Architectures Center. Developed clustering algorithms for specialized image processing tasks. Member of the MOVIE (Multitasking Object oriented Visual Interactive Environment) research group. Jointly developed a High Performance Fortran (HPF) interpreter based on MOVIE. Explored parallel and distributed computing for research in computational science. Introduced neural network technology into the design of Virtual Environments. Platforms/Hardware: DECstation (Ultrix), DEC Maspar, SGI Onyx (Irix), Sun Workstations (SunOS, Solaris), IBM RS-6000 (AIX), Macintosh (A/UX, MacOS), DEC Maspar, Thinking Machines Connection Machine 2, Connection Machine 5 (CM OS), IBM SP-2. Languages/Software: C (C*), C++, Java, Perl, PostScript, MovieScript, Fortran (Fortran-90, CMFortran, High Performance Fortran), Lisp (*Lisp), TCL/TK, SuperPascal, Unix Shells; PVM, X-Windows (Motif), GL (Open GL), Advanced Visualization System (AVS), Mathematica, Matlab.

1990 to1991                  Boston University, Boston, MA.

                                    Research Fellow, Center for Adaptive Systems. Produced biologically inspired massively parallel models to explain brain and behavioral data and to provide solutions to technological problems. Areas of investigation included invariant pattern recognition, adaptive sensorimotor control, and robotics and Content Addressable Memories and their self-stabilizing properties. Platforms/Hardware: SGI Indy (Irix), Sun SparcStation (SunOS, Solaris), Thinking Machines Connection Machine 2, PC (Windows 3.1). Languages/Software: C (C*), Fortran, Perl; X Windows (Motif), Mathematica, Matlab, SGI Explorer.

1989 to 1990                 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.

                                    Member of the Technical Staff. Advanced Computer Systems and Applications Section. Member of the Remote Sensing Analysis Systems and Modeling Group. Performed studies in electromagnetic scattering using the JPL/Caltech Mark IIIfp Hypercube. Designed and developed visualization and analysis tools for Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations of magnetohydrodynamic interactions. Completed the demonstration of a prototype Hypercube Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) processing system. Installed an 8-node Hypercube and ported the operating system for the given hardware configuration. Performed system administration and user support tasks for the new ensemble, including the development of tutorial presentations. Platforms/Hardware: Sun Workstation SunOS), Mark IIIfp Hypercube (Crystalline Operating System), Macintosh (MacOS), Cray X-MP. Languages/Software: C, C++, Unix Shells; Mathematica.

1988 to 1989                 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.

                                    Technical Co-op Fellow. Conducted independent research to develop a system capable of processing large numbers of continuous SAR high-resolution images using the Mark IIIfp Hypercube. This project formed an integral part of my undergraduate thesis. Platforms/Hardware: Sun Workstation (SunOS), Mark IIIfp Hypercube (Crystalline Operating System), Macintosh (MacOS). Languages/Software: C, C++, Unix Shells; Mathematica.

1985 to 1989                 The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH.

                                    Teaching Assistant for the Department of Physics.

                                    Computer Research Assistant for the Department of Religious Studies.

                                    Computer Consultant for Academic Computer Services.

                                    Computer Consultant for News Services

1985 to 1987                 Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC.

                                    Pre-Doctoral Student Fellow/Junior Research Fellow. Assisted staff research in Geophysics and Seismology. Designed and implemented advanced visualization tools for the analysis and manipulation of large seismic databases used in the validation of earth crustal models. Assisted in the preparation of meeting presentations and journal papers. Platforms/Hardware: DEC Graphics Workstation (VMS), DEC VaxStation (Ultrix). Languages/Software: Fortran, C; DEC Windowing System.

Honors and Awards

Professional Associations

Professional Service

Books and Book Chapters

Simoni, D.A. (2007). “Reverse Engineering the Visual System via Genetic Programs.” In Schmorrow, D.D., and L.M. Reeves (Eds.), Foundations of Augmented Cognition, (3rd ed.). Berlin: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Simoni, D.A. (2006). “Augmented Search for Clinical and Research Images.” In Dylan, D., K. Morrow, M. Stanney and L. Reeves (Eds.), Foundations of Augmented Cognition (2nd ed.). Strategic Analysis, Inc., pp. 329-332.

Fox, G.C., W. Furmanski, P. Hornberger, J. Niemiec, and D. Simoni (1995). “Implementing Televirtuality.” In Earnshaw, R.A., J.A. Vince, and H. Jones (Eds.), Virtual Reality Applications. Academic Press Ltd., Chapter 7, pp. 91-122.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Cooley, P.C., D.J. Roberts, V.D. Bakalov, B. Jayanthi, S.H. Bikmal, S. Cantor, T. Costandine, L. Ganapathi, G.L. Grubbs, S. Li, Y. Qin, W.H. Savage, D.A. Simoni, E. Solano, and D.K. Wagener (Forthcoming). “The MIDAS Model Repository (MREP).” IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine.

Motter, B. and D.A. Simoni (2007). “The Roles of Cortical Image Separation and Size in Active Visual Search Performance.” Journal of Vision. Vol. 7, No. 2, pp.6, 1-15, http://journalofvision.org/7/2/6/, doi:10.

Simoni, D.A. and B. Motter (2003). “Human Search Performance is a Threshold Function of Cortical Image Separation.” Journal of Vision, Vol. 3, No. 9, pp. 228a, http://journalofvision.org/3/9/228/, doi:10.1167/3.9.228.

Furmanski, W., C. Faigle, T. Haupt, J. Niemiec, M. Podgorny, and D. Simoni (1993). “MOVIE Model for Open Systems based High Performance Distributed Computing.” In special HPDC issue of Concurrency: Practice and Experience, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 287-308.

Patterson, J., T. Cwik, R. Ferraro, N. Jacobi, P. Liewer, T. Lockhart, G. Lyzenga, J. Parker, and D.A. Simoni (1990). “Parallel Computation applied to Electromagnetic Scattering and Radiation Analysis.” Electromagnetics, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 21-39.

Presentations

Roberts, D.J. and D.A. Simoni (2007). “A Teragrid-enabled Distributed Discrete Event Agent-based Epidemiological Simulation.” Presented at Winter Simulation Conference, Washington, DC.

Roberts, D.J., D.A. Simoni, and S. Eubank (2007). “A National Scale Microsimulation of Disease Outbreaks.” In Advances in Disease Surveillance, No. Vol. 4. Indianapolis, IN.

Roberts, D.J., D.A. Simoni, M. Marathe, S. Eubank, K. Atkins, P. Romero, S. Brown, and K. Muriki (2007). “A National Scale Microsimulation of Disease Outbreaks.” Presented at Los Alamos National Laboratory HPC User’s Group Meeting, Los Alamos, NM.

Cooley, P.C., D.A. Simoni, D.K. Wagener, and E. Solano (2007). “The MIDAS Research Network.” Poster presented at RTI’s Fellows Internal Symposium, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Cooley, P.C., D.A. Simoni, D.K. Wagener, and E. Solano. "The MIDAS Research Network." Poster presented at Latin American Conference on Informatics (CLEI2007), San Jose, Costa Rica.

Cooley, P.C., D.A. Simoni, D.K. Wagener, and E. Solano (2007). “The MIDAS Research Network.” Poster presented at Costa Rica Technology Insight 2007, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Wheaton, W.D., B.M. Chasteen, J.C. Cajka, J.L. Allpress, M.T. Bacon, P.C. Cooley, L. Ganapathi, D.E. Roberson, and D.A. Simoni (2007). “A Synthesized U.S. Agent Database for Agent-Based Models (presented by W.D. Wheaton).” Poster presented at 2007 RTI International Fellows Internal Symposium, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Simoni, D.A. (2006). “Augmented Search for Clinical and Research Images.” Poster presented at Second Augmented Cognition Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Cooley, P.C., D.A. Simoni, and D.K. Wagener (2006). “The MIDAS Research Network.” Poster presented at Infectious Disease Informatics Meeting, Urbana, IL.

Simoni, D.A., and P.C. Cooley (2006). “TeraGrid Support for Multiscale Models of Infectious Disease.” Poster presented at TeraGrid 2006 Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Simoni, D. (1999). “Understanding the Brain by Construction.” Corporation for National Research Initiatives, Vienna, VA.

Simoni, D. (1998). “Synthetic and Analytic Models in Computational Neuroscience.” Krasnow Institute of Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.

Simoni, D. (1996). “Internet Business Applications,” “Introduction to Marketing,” “Advanced Marketing on the Internet,” “Commercial Transactions on the Internet,” and “How to Publish on the Internet.” Papers presented at the Wichita Internet and World Wide Web Conference, Wichita, KS.

Simoni, D. (1996). “Advanced Business Applications on the World Wide Web.” A paper presented at the 7th Annual KC Connect '96 Conference, Kansas City, MO.

Simoni, D. (1993). “High Performance Fortran.” A series of eight seminars given to the MOVIE Research Group at NPAC, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

Faigle, C., G. Fox, W. Furmanski, J. Niemiec, and D. Simoni (1993). “Integrating Virtual Environments with High Performance Computing.” Proceedings of the 1st IEEE Virtual Reality Annual International Symposium, VRAIS'93, Seattle, WA.

Faigle, C., W. Furmanski, T. Haupt, J. Niemiec, M. Podgorny, and D. Simoni (1992). “MOVIE Model for Open Systems Based High Performance Distributed Computing.” Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on High Performance Distributed Computing HPDC-1, Syracuse, NY.

Simoni, D. (1992). “Content Addressable Memories for Gesture Recognition.” International School on Neural Modeling and Neural Networks, Capri, Italy.

Simoni, D. (1991). “Predictive Tracking in Virtual Environments.” A paper presented at the Semiannual ASAS Meeting, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.

Simoni, D. and J.F. Partee (1990). “SAR Processing and Visualization Using the Hypercube Topology.” Proceedings of the IEEE 4th Annual Parallel Processing Symposium, California State University-Fullerton, Fullerton, CA.

Simoni, D.A and J. Partee (1990). “Image Processing Using Task Decomposition Techniques on a Parallel Supercomputer.” Proceedings of the IEEE 4th Annual Parallel Processing Symposium, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA.

Ferraro, R.D., T. Cwik, N. Jacobi, P.C. Liewer, T.G. Lockhart, G.A. Lyzenga, J. Parker, J.E. Patterson, and D.A. Simoni (1990). “Parallel Finite Elements Applied to 3D Electromagnetic Scattering Problems.” Proceedings of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symposium, Dallas,TX.

Simoni, D.A. and J.F. Partee (1990). “Pipelined Approach to SAR Processing on the Hypercube.” Proceedings of the 5th Distributed Memory Concurrent Computing Conference, Charleston, SC.

Simoni, D. (1989). “How to Use the Mark III Hypercube: Overview and Tutorial.” NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.

Simoni, D. (1989). “Recent Results of the Hypercube SAR Processing System.” Given to the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis before their departure into space for deployment of the Magellan robotic explorer to Venus. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.

Simoni, D.A., B. Zimmerman, J. Patterson, C. Wu, and J.C. Peterson (1989). “Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing Using the Hypercube Concurrent Architecture.” Proceedings of the Fourth Conference on Hypercube Concurrent Computers and Applications, Monterey, CA.

Simoni, D.A., B. Zimmerman, J. Patterson, C. Wu, and J. Peterson (1989). “Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing Using the Hypercube Concurrent Architecture.” Proceedings of the Fourth Conference on Hypercube Concurrent Computers and Applications, Monterey, CA.

Simoni, D. (1989). “Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing Using the Hypercube Concurrent Architecture.” A paper presented at the Fourth Conference on Hypercube Computers and Applications, Monterey, CA.

Patents

Simoni, D., J. Massa, and J. Wieser (Pending). “System and Method for Personalization of Information.” Yellowbrix, Inc.

Technical Reports

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University (1993). “Towards Interactive HPCC: High Performance Fortran Interpreter.” (Technical Report NPAC/SCCS-587). Syracuse, NY. Prepared by Fox, G.C., W. Furmanski, P. Hornberger, J. Niemiec, and D.A. Simoni.

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University (1993). “Integrating VR and HPCC.” (Technical Report NPAC/SCCS-586). Syracuse, NY. Prepared by Faigle, C., G.C. Fox, W. Furmanski, J. Niemiec, and D.A. Simoni.

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University (1993). “Some Nonlinear Neural Networks and Their Applications to Virtual Realities.” (Technical Report NPAC/SCCS-559). Syracuse, NY. Prepared by Simoni, D.A.

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University (1993). “Application of Back Propagation Networks to Map Separates.” (Technical Report NPAC/SCCS-558). Syracuse, NY. Prepared by Simoni, D.A.

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University (1993). “Supercomputing and VR.” (Technical Report NPAC/SCCS-555). Syracuse, NY. Prepared by Furmanski, W., C. Faigle, G.C. Fox, J. Niemiec, and D.A. Simoni.

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University (1993). “System Requirements for Dynamic Load Balancing in Homogeneous Platforms for Heterogeneous HPDC: Case Study Using MOVIE.” (Technical Report NPAC/SCCS-554), Syracuse, NY. Prepared by Faigle, C., G.C. Fox, W. Furmanski, J. Niemiec, and D.A. Simoni,

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University (1993). “Integrating Virtual Environments with High Performance Computing.” (Technical Report NPAC/SCCS-412). Syracuse, NY. Prepared by Faigle, C., G.C. Fox, W. Furmanski, J. Niemiec, and D.A. Simoni.

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University (1992). “MOVIE Model for Open Systems Based High Performance Distributed Computing.” (Technical Report NPAC/SCCS-300). Syracuse, NY. Prepared by Faigle, C., W. Furmanski,, T. Haupt, J. Niemiec, M. Podgorny, and D.A. Simoni.

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University (1992). “The Synthesis of Arbitrary Stable Convergent Dynamics in Nonlinear Neural Networks.” (Technical Report NPAC/SCCS-312). Syracuse, NY. Prepared by Simoni, D.A.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1990). “Parallel Computational Electromagnetics” (NASA JPL C3P Report). Pasadena, CA. Prepared by Patterson, J.E., T. Cwik, R.D. Ferraro, N Jacobi, R. Hodges, P.C. Liewer, T.G. Lockhart, G.A. Lyzenga, J.W. Parker, J. Partee, and D.A. Simoni.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1990). “Hypercube Matrix Computation Task - Research in Parallel Computational Electromagnetics” (NASA JPL C3P Report). Prepared by Cwik, T., R.D. Ferraro, R. Hodges, N. Jacobi, P.C. Liewer, T.G. Lockhart, G.A. Lyzenga, J.W. Parker, J. Partee, J. Patterson, and D.A. Simoni., Pasadena, CA.

Languages

Fluent in English and Spanish