Research Group

Dr. Catherine Cerny

Postdoc

B.S. Astrophysics and Astronomy, Interdisciplinary Physics, and Asian Studies at U-M; graduated Dec 2016
M.Sc in Astrophysics, Boston University
PhD in Astrophysics, Durham, UK. 

Publications and abstracts [ADS]

Dr. Kate Napier

PhD, University of Michigan, graduated: Spring 2024

Research Associate, LSST at SLAC [link]

Recent papers: 

• COOL-LAMPS. Discovery of COOL J0335-1927, a Gravitationally Lensed Quasar at z = 3.27 with an Image Separation of 23.″3; Napier et al. (2023)

• Hubble Constant Measurement from Three Large-Separation Quasars Strongly Lensed by Galaxy Clusters; Napier et al. (2023)

• Extended X-ray emission from the z = 4.26 radio galaxy 4C 63.20 ; Napier et al. (2020)

Abstracts:

• Decals J0542-2125: the Dynamical State of an Extraordinary Cluster Merger at Z=0.61; Chandra + HST proposal

• Hubble Constant Measurement from Three Quasars Strongly Lensed by Galaxy Clusters; AAS 241

Dr. Juan David Remolina G. [linkedin]

PhD, University of Michigan, graduated: Spring 2021

Recent papers: 

• Core Mass Estimates in Strong Lensing Galaxy Clusters: a Comparison Between Masses Obtained from Detailed Lens Models, Single-Halo Lens Models, and Einstein Radii ; Remolina Gonzalez et al. (2021)

• Core Mass Estimates in Strong Lensing Galaxy Clusters Using a Single-Halo Lens Model ; Remolina Gonzalez et al. , (2021)

• Efficient Mass Estimate at the Core of Strong Lensing Galaxy Clusters Using the Einstein Radius ; Remolina Gonzalez et al. (2020)

• An Evaluation of 10 Lensing Models of the Frontier Fields Cluster MACS J0416.1-2403; Remolina Gonzalez et al. (2018)
  (poster presented at Clusters conference, Santander 2017)

Carter Fox

UofM undergraduate major in Astronomy and Astrophysics, graduated 2021. Carter is working with Dr. Guillaume Mahler, on lens modeling of galaxy clusters from the RELICS program.  

Carter is also an astrophotographer, check out some of his artwork here. 

Papers:

• The Strongest Cluster Lenses: An Analysis of the Relation Between Strong Gravitational Lensing Strength and the Physical Properties of Galaxy Clusters ; Fox et al. (2020) 

Dr. Guillaume Mahler 

U-M Postdoctoral researcher Fall 2017 -- Fall 2020

Ph.D in Astrophysics, Université Claude Bernard, CRAL, Lyon, France, 2017

Marie Curie Fellow, at Durham, UK

Faculty at Univeristy of Liège, 

[about]

Publications and abstracts [ADS]

Select papers :

• Strong-lensing Analysis of SPT-CL J2325‑4111 and SPT-CL J0049‑2440, Two Powerful Cosmic Telescopes (RE > 40″) from the SPT Clusters Sample (2025)

• Precision Modeling of JWST's First Cluster Lens SMACS J0723.3-7327 (2023)

• Strong Lensing Model of SPT-CL J0356-5337, a Major Merger Candidate at Redshift 1.0359; Mahler et al. (2020)

• RELICS: Strong Lensing Analysis of MACS J0417.5-1154 and Predictions for Observing the Magnified High-Redshift Universe with JWST; Mahler et al. (2019)

Brendan Reed 

Undergraduate student in the group Fall 2017 - Spring 2018

B.S. in Astronomy and Astrophysics,  B.S. in Interdisciplinary Physics, and a Minor in Japanese Language and Culture at the University of Michigan. (graduated: Spring 2018)

Brendan worked Juan Remolina to measure the statistical uncertainty in the first-order approximation of enclosed projected mass density as inferred from the location of giant arcs, using simulations. He previously worked as a research assistant of Dr. Monica Valluri. 

• Reed et al. (2018) AAS presentation

• Poster

Dr. Rachel Paterno-Mahler 

U-M Postdoctoral researcher, 2016-2017 ;

Ph.D in Astrophysics, Boston University; M.S. in Physics, UC Irvine; B.A. In physics, Pomona College

Papers:

• The High-Redshift Clusters Occupied by Bent Radio AGN (COBRA) Survey (2017) 

• RELICS: A Strong Lens Model for SPT-CLJ0615–5746, a z = 0.972 Cluster (2018)

Dr. Catherine Cerny

B.S. Astrophysics and Astronomy, Interdisciplinary Physics, and Asian Studies at U-M; graduated Dec 2016 

M.Sc in Astrophysics, Boston University 

PhD in Astrophysics, Durham, UK. 

Post-baccalaureate research assistant at U-M, and published the first paper out of the RELICS collaboration! 

Publications:

• RELICS: Strong Lens Models for Five Galaxy Clusters From the Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey (2017)

• AAS oral presentation (Jan 2017)

• poster

Dr. Anna Niemiec 

U-M Postdoctoral researcher May 2018-2020 

Ph.D in Astrophysics, LAM, Marseilles France, 2017

Postdoc at Durham, UK

Postdoct at the LPNHE in Paris, France

Recent papers:

• Dark matter stripping in galaxy clusters: a look at the stellar-to-halo mass relation in the Illustris simulation, Niemiec et al. (2019)

• Probing galaxy assembly bias with LRG weak lensing observations, Niemiec et al. (2018)