Brian Cudnik
	Title: Laboratory Specialist Phone: (936) 261-3136 Fax: (936) 261-3149 Email: bmcudnik@pvamu.edu Office Hours: T, R 10am-12:00pm, or when I am available

Education:

B.S, Northern Arizona University, 1994
M.S, San Diego State University, 1998

Research:

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Brian Cudnik received a B.S. degree in Physics and Astronomy from Northern Arizona University in 1994 and an M.S. degree in Astronomy from San Diego State University in 1998. He started part-time work with the Prairie View Solar Observatory (PVSO) project in November of 1998 through an outreach technician position at Rice University. This work became full-time, with the transfer of employment from Rice to Prairie View A&M University in April 1999, making his involvement in the project a full-time effort. Until 30 September 2001, before a transfer to his current position as Physics Lab Manager, Mr. Cudnik worked with PVSO, establishing an observing program, publishing several conference proceedings and refereed papers, and mentoring a number of students along the way. 

Some of the research that Mr. Cudnik had been involved with over the years included photometric studies and modeling of the over-contact eclipsing variable star W Corvi, narrowband imaging of Jupiter (both of these projects during his undergraduate years), and narrowband imaging and photometry of the comet Hale-Bopp for his Master of Science thesis. He has also taught introductory astronomy laboratories and courses in the university and community college setting, and has been involved in public outreach programs involving "star parties" and planetarium shows.

He is currently involved with the upgrading, modernization, and expansion of the labs within the Physics department, maintaining the inventory of the laboratory equipment, and assisting in the write-up of proposals. He has been living in Houston since June 1998 with his wife, Susan, whom he married in June 1995.

Current and recent research activity includes the following:

• Multiwavelength CCD Observations of the 08 June 2004 Venus Transit of the Sun
• Amateur/Professional Collaboration: Meteoric Impacts at the Moon Visible with Ground-based Telescopes
• Amateur/Professional Collaboration: Global Campaign to Monitor Lunar Leonid Meteors and the Significance of the Results Thereof
• Narrowband Observations of Comet 1995O1/Hale-Bopp: Gas (C2, C3, and CN) and dust production, and the Ratio of Gas to Dust near Perihelion Passage
• CCD Observations of the 15 November 1999 Mercury Transit across the Sun

Refereed publications that I have authored and co-authored to date include the following:

• Cudnik, Brian M. "Observations of the Inner Coma of C/1995O1 (Hale-Bopp)-Gas and Dust Production", Planetary and Space Science, v. 53, Issue 6, p. 653-658 (2005).
• Cudnik, B.M. Multi-Wavelength CCD Observations of the 15 November 1999 Mercury Transit. Solar Physics, v. 219, Issue 2, p. 197-216 (2004).
• Cudnik, Brian M.; Palmer, David W.; Palmer, David M.; Cook, Anthony; Venable, Roger; Gural, Peter S. "The Observation and Characterization of Lunar Meteoroid Impact Phenomena" Earth, Moon, and Planets, v. 93,
• Issue 2, p. 97-106 (2003).
• Cudnik, Brian M.; Palmer, David W.; Palmer, David M.; Cook, Anthony; Venable, Roger; Gural, Peter S. "Ground-Based Observations of Lunar Meteoritic Phenomena" Accepted for publication by Earth, Moon, and
• Planets, in press.
• Pojoga, Sorin, Cudnik, Brian. The Clustering Properties of Active Regions During the First Part of Solar Cycle 23. Solar Physics, v. 208, Issue 1, p. 17-32 (2002).
• Cudnik, B.M. "Observations of the Inner Coma of C/1995O1 (Hale-Bopp)-Gas and Dust Production" (2004), in preparation for submission to the journal Planetary and Space Science

Service:

Chair, Program Committee, Houston Astronomical Society

Collaboration:

I am a member of two professional societies and several non-professional societies, some of which collaborate with the professional astronomy community. In my spare time, I am involved in astronomical work that has professional-amateur collaborative benefits, including the coordination of a network of amateur astronomers to monitor the moon for lunar meteor impacts (such as the one I witnessed firsthand in November 1999)

• American Astronomical Society, member since 1993
• American Meteorological Society, member since 2003
• Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, coordinator Lunar Meteoritic Impact Search section
• Houston Astronomical Society, member since 1998
• International Occultation Timing Association, chasing asteroids' shadows
• American Association of Variable Star Observers, I regularly submit visual variable star magnitude estimates and daily sunspot counts to this organization.

In addition to the above professional, semi-professional, and amateur activities, I am actively involved in God's work through Houston First Church of God. My involvement with this church helps to bring fulfillment and purpose to my life as well as to the community.