David Ackerman
Senior Software Engineer at Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Ashburn, Virginia, United States
Summary
👤
Senior🎓
Top SchoolDavid Ackerman is a Senior Software Engineer with a decade of experience applying computational methods to interdisciplinary science, currently contributing to the Computational Methods group at Janelia Research Campus within HHMI. Trained as a PhD biophysicist with prior research in theoretical astrophysics, he builds simulation tools, GUIs, and analysis pipelines that turn complex experimental and MD datasets into reproducible, publication-quality results. His work spans developing analytical solutions for membrane phase behavior, automating experimental instruments, and securing large-scale supercomputer allocations—skills that blend deep domain modeling with practical software engineering. Based in Ashburn, VA, he brings a track record of translating research needs into robust software and instrumentation, often creating user-facing tools that empower lab colleagues to explore parameter spaces and fit experimental data.
10 years of coding experience
7 years of employment as a software developer
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Biophysics, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Biophysics at Cornell UniversityBachelor of Arts (B.A.), Physics, Math, Integrated Sciences, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Physics, Math, Integrated Sciences at Northwestern University
Github Skills (65)
segmentation10
matlab9
downsampling9
dimensions9
in-place8
ccl8
image-filters8
machine-learning8
geometry8
deep-learning7
mesh7
python7
image-processing6
out-of-memory6
webgl6
Programming languages (11)
Github contributions (5)
janelia-cellmap/mesh-n-bone
Dec 2020 - Dec 2022
Contributions:119 commits, 11 PRs, 132 pushes in 2 years
davidackerman/mesh_playground
Aug 2022 - Jun 2026
Contributions:3 PRs, 29 pushes, 2 branches in 3 years 10 months
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