Dr. Michael Saladyga Technical Assistant: Data Processing, JAAVSO Production Editor, Archives,
and Library
Mike began working for the AAVSO in January, 1985, on the suggestion and
recommendation of his former boss, Dr. Dorrit Hoffleit at Yale Astronomy. Mike worked for Dr. Hoffleit as Research Assistant and
Computer Programmer on the Yale Bright Star Catalogue
(4th ed.) and the Supplement to the BSC.
Mike has been involved in just about every aspect of
staff work at AAVSO Headquarters. His responsibilities currently center on: compiling and checking the variable star observations received at HQ each month; editing, layout, and author/referee communication for production of the AAVSO Journal; and arranging and cataloging of the AAVSO archives (a ten-year project begun in October 2000, in preparation for the AAVSO's 100th anniversary); he is also routinely called to assist other
staff with their projects.
Mike attended Temple University and Buffalo State College (BA); Middlebury College (MA); and Brandeis
University (MA, PhD). Thanks to the indulgence of Dr. Hoffleit at Yale, and Dr. Mattei at the AAVSO, Mike was able to pursue his graduate education while working for them
part-time and full-time, as necessary.
Other work experience includes teaching courses in literature and
composition; full-time tutor in writing,
computer programming, and business math for an employment re-training program; four years in the U.S. Coast Guard; and many other odd jobs.
Mike's interests beyond his work at the AAVSO, are mainly reading, writing,
hiking, boating and sailing (in other peoples' boats), and historical ship restoration— currently helping with work on the 1930 tugboat LUNA. Mike and his wife Ann are the proud owners of Inky the cat, a Shepherd, Danu, and Max the Newfoundland dog.