AWARD-WINNING ASTROPHYSICIST ASHOT CHILINGARIAN TO HEAD YEREVAN PHYSICS INSTITUTE

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Friday, April 17, 2009

YEREVAN–In November 2008, Professor Ashot Chilingarian was appointed
director of the Yerevan Physics Institute (YerPhI). Chilingarian
accepted the position on an interim basis during which the institute
will be reorganized while a search is conducted for a permanent
director. Chilingarian remains the head of the institute’s Cosmic Ray
Division. Under his leadership the CRD has established a prominent
role in the international scientific community, and has provided a
number of young Armenian scientists and engineers an opportunity to
train and work at CRD’s research stations on Mt. Aragats.

With Diasporan support, he has been able to establish international
research partnerships and projects which leverage Diaspora
contributions 5 fold.

Prof. Chilingarian earned his Ph.D. in 1984 and Doctor of Science
in Physics and Mathematics from Yerevan Physics Institute in 1991,
becoming the deputy director of the institute as well as head of the
Cosmic Ray Division in 1993. Since 1975 he has been a lecturer of
Physics and Software Engineering at Yerevan State University (YSU).

Chilingarian’s expertise is in the sphere of high energy astroparticle
physics. He has been awarded more than 20 research grants from
foundations including the International Science and Technology Center
and the International Technology and Science foundation. These grants,
together with Diaspora help, were crucial in supporting CRD’s ongoing
scientific research during the most difficult years of Armenia’s
independence and continue to be essential today.

Chilingarian is the author of the ANI computer code library, which
has been extensively used during the last few decades for analysis
of cosmic ray detector data. He also introduced analytical methods
to distinguish between gene expression in normal and tumor-affected
tissue, a problem which is mathematically similar to identifying
constituent particles in cosmic rays.

Under his supervision, the Data Visualization Interactive Network
(DVIN) was developed for the Aragats Space Environmental Center (ASEC)
in Armenia. This project won a UN World Summit on Information Society
award in Geneva in 2003, and the All-Armenia Information Society award
in 2005. He also has served as a lecturer for CERN’s post-graduate
physics school, an annual event organized by the CERN international
physics research center on the French-Swiss border.

Prof. Chilingarian has authored approximately 300 scientific
publications and is currently Armenia’s representative to the
Commission for Space Research, and is the International Heliophysical
Year – 2007 spokesperson for Armenia’s ANI and ASEC collaborations.

Physics Institute focuses on key areas of science

Under Chilingarian’s leadership YerPhI’s focus will continue
on theoretical physics, accelerator technology, and cosmic ray
physics. Focus will also be directed towards effective utilization
of YerPhI’s physical and intellectual assets to enhance revenue
generation. Under consideration are ways to support Armenia’s
scientific community, and to develop partnerships for commercialization
of technologies that not only will generate revenue, but will enhance
Armenia’s social well being as well. Projects being considered include
the development of medical imaging and radiopharmaceutical technologies
for use both in Armenia and in the region.

Cosmic Ray Division

Prof. Chilingarian will continue to lead CRD’s research and
international partnerships which funds a large part of CRD’s
activities. SEVAN (Space Environment Viewing and Analysis Network),
a world-wide network of new particle detectors for research in
space weather and solar physics, was developed at the CRD within
the framework of the International Heliophysical Year and the United
Nations Basic Space Science (UNBSS) program.

UNBSS focuses on the deployment of arrays of small inexpensive
instruments around the world. Many of the key developers are young
scientists and engineers who were trained at the CRD and supported in
part by Diaspora funding. Installation of the first SEVAN detectors
in Croatia and Bulgaria in December 2008 was performed by young
CRD experts. The number of countries interested in participating in
this project is growing rapidly. The SEVAN detectors are designed and
manufactured in Armenia, and financed by international sources. The CRD
and Prof. Chilingarian are the technical leads for the international
SEVAN project.

More information on the CRD can be found at
Information on the Yerevan Physics Institute can
be found at