Nathaniel Kerman
Hi! I'm Nat Kerman.
I'm a grad student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, pursuing a PhD in Astronomy. I study the formation of exoplanets and brown dwarfs using data from cutting-edge observatories like JWST and ALMA.
In the past, I have specialized in scientific calibration and data analysis with Python, UV/optical/IR instrumentation, and science education and communication. In my work on heliophysics missions and climate satellites at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (2022-25), I bridged the gap between hardware and software engineering to help develop efficient and effective data processing pipelines, all with the goal of producing the best possible measurements of our solar system and our changing climate.
In my work at the Space Telescope Science Institute (2020-22), (the operations center for the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes,) I worked with a brilliant team to keep Hubble and its most sensitive ultraviolet spectrograph (the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph) working at their full scientific potential.
I am passionate about teaching, and have served as the instructor of record for an upper level undergraduate course at CU Boulder (ASTR 3800: Introduction to Scientific Data Analysis and Computing).
-
I'm also a creative person, fascinated by the intersections of art, science and technology. This website mostly focuses on my creative pursuits. I photograph with a large format view camera (think of Ansel Adams, under a sheet) and use homemade techniques to capture astro-photography and infrared light.
You can see my work here at AstroNat.org!