Steve is the Director of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), a major new facility currently under construction, that will enable a wide array of scientific investigations ranging from studies of moving objects in the solar system to the structure and evolution of the universe as a whole. His research group is primarily working on the design and development of that facility, and its application to research in fundamental cosmology. They are building and testing laboratory prototypes of components of the LSST camera, and developing and utilizing detailed simulations to investigate systematics that may arise in studies of cosmic shear. Prior to his engagement with LSST, Steve was an X-ray astrophysicist, concentrating on the design of instrumentation and analysis of data associated with high resolution X-ray spectroscopy of cosmic sources. He maintains an interest in that field, although at a low level, given his commitments to LSST.

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).