section_path: Research interests
section_name: Research interests
paragraph_text: Research interests
  
  McDowell's main research interests include:
  
  In software, McDowell helped design the CIAO data analysis package and the software infrastructure for the Chandra X-ray Observatory data processing pipelines. More recently, McDowell led the creation of an exhibit of astronomical images at the Smithsonian. He is co-director of an undergraduate summer research program whose alumni include Alicia M. Soderberg and Planet Hunters scientist Megan Schwamb.