About
I am a PhD student in astrophysics at Caltech working in radio astronomy. My research focuses on studying interstellar and intergalactic plasmas using radio transients — fast radio bursts, pulsars, and quasars. I currently work on fast radio bursts, extreme scattering events, and developing advanced pulsar search algorithms for next-generation observatories like the Deep Synoptic Array.
I was a Fulbright Scholar at McGill University, where I worked with the CHIME/FRB Collaboration. I have also been part of Breakthrough Listen at UC Berkeley and have contributed to next-generation gravitational-wave observatory efforts. I hold dual B.A. degrees in Physics (Astrophysics, High Honors) and Philosophy from Oberlin College, with additional study at King's College London and research at the University of Amsterdam and Cornell.
Curriculum Vitae Download PDF
Education
- Ph.D. Astrophysics — California Institute of Technology 2023 – 2029 (exp.)
- B.A. Physics (Astrophysics) with High Honors — Oberlin College 2017 – 2021
- B.A. Philosophy — Oberlin College 2017 – 2021
- Visiting Student — King's College London Jan. – Jun. 2020
Research experience
- Fulbright Scholar — McGill Space Institute / CHIME/FRB 2020 – present
- Research Assistant — UC Berkeley / Breakthrough Listen Jun. 2020 – present
- Research Assistant — Oberlin College / NANOGrav 2017 – 2021
- Research Assistant — University of Amsterdam / ASTRON 2018 – 2019
- Research Assistant — Cornell University / NANOGrav Jun. – Nov. 2018
Honors & awards
- Fulbright Research Scholar Award — Fulbright Program & McGill University 2021
- Robert Weinstock Prize — Outstanding Achievements in Physics, Oberlin 2020
- Dahl Philosophy Prize — Best Undergraduate Essay, Oberlin 2020
- SETI Forward Award — UC Berkeley / Breakthrough Listen / SETI Institute 2020
Teaching
- TA, Astronomical Measurements & Instrumentation — Caltech Fall 2023
- Instructor, General Relativity — Oberlin Experimental College 2020 – 2021
- TA, Introductory Astronomy & Differential Equations — Oberlin 2019 – 2020
Technical skills
- Languages: Python, C/C++, SQL
- Systems: Unix, Mathematica, LaTeX
- Tools: Git, Docker, PSRCHIVE, DSPSR, TEMPO2, PINT
Full details in the PDF version.
Talks & Presentations
| Title | Venue | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compelling Morphologies of Fast Radio Bursts with CHIME/FRB Baseband Data | FRB 2022 / CRAQ | May 2022 | |
| Multiband Detection of Repeating FRB 20180916B | AAS 237 | Jan. 2021 | |
| Applying Scintillometry Techniques to Fast Radio Bursts | Scintillometry, MPIfR Bonn | Jul. 2019 | |
| Improving Gravitational Wave Detection: Interstellar Scattering Correction | APS March Meeting | Mar. 2019 | |
| Simulating Pulsar Scintillation in the ISM: Wave Optics v. Ray Tracing | AAS 233, Seattle | Jan. 2019 |
Software
Open-source tools developed for the DSA-110 project.
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dsa110-FLITS
Fitting Likelihoods In Time-Frequency Spectra: FRB intensity analysis pipeline.
Python -
dsa110-continuum
DSA-110 continuum imaging pipeline development codebase.
Python
News
- 2024-05
- New paper: "A Heavily Scattered Fast Radio Burst Is Viewed Through Multiple Galaxy Halos" submitted to arXiv (DSA-110).
- 2023-12
- New paper: "Morphologies of Bright Complex Fast Radio Bursts with CHIME/FRB Voltage Data" submitted to arXiv.
- 2023-08
- Started PhD in Astrophysics at Caltech.
- 2022-05
- Presented "Compelling Morphologies of Fast Radio Bursts with CHIME/FRB Baseband Data" at FRB 2022 and CRAQ; received honorable mention (3rd place) among 52 graduate talks.
- 2021-09
- Began Fulbright Research Fellowship at the McGill Space Institute / CHIME/FRB Collaboration.
- 2021-05
- Graduated from Oberlin College with dual B.A. in Physics (High Honors) and Philosophy. Awarded the Robert Weinstock Prize and Dahl Philosophy Prize.
- 2021-01
- Presented "Multiband Detection of Repeating FRB 20180916B" at AAS 237.
- 2020
- Received SETI Forward Award from UC Berkeley, Breakthrough Listen & SETI Institute.
Contact
For collaborations, questions, or a friendly note, reach out at jfaber@caltech.edu.