Name: Sam Penders

Hometown: Apple Valley, MN

Graduate Program: M.S. in Data Science

Graduation Year: 2024

Interests: Watching hockey, playing broomball, classical music, cooking

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

I have a B.S. in physics, so physics/astophysics was already a deep interest of mine. The DSMMA program was a perfect opportunity to further engage with physics while strengthening my data science skills through the classes and my capstone project. I'm still in disbelief that this program which feels tailor-made for me exists!

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of the DSMMA program?

The most beneficial part of DSMMA is the research project. I needed to complete a project for my master's degree anyway, and the DSMMA program made it easy to formulate a project with another student and start working on this right away. Along the way, I gained a lot of experience with deep learning which has been invaluable in my other coursework, and future career.

What advice would you give to graduate students interested in the DSMMA program?

I would highly recommend the program overall based on the interesting research opportunities, classes, and the data science skills you will develop. I would also suggest starting on your project early which will make it less stressful while also allowing the project to progress naturally and creatively.

What are your plans after completing the DSMMA program and graduation?

I will work as a Data Scientist at Travelers, where I was an intern last summer.

Name: Aritra Banerjee

Hometown: Howrah, India

Graduate Program: PhD in Statistics

Graduation Year: 2026 (Expected)

Interests: Academic: Statistical Inference, Machine Learning, Computational Statistics. Others: Cooking, Sudoku, Chess, Learning languages

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

I have been a stats major for over 8 years now and have always been fascinated by the vast applicability of the subject. During my school days Physics was also one of my but couldn't take it up as my companion for my academic journey. DSMMA brought me a unique opportunity to reunite my love for physics with the subject I have plenty of experience with. 

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of the DSMMA program?

It has to be the people you get to meet and the projects you get to choose to be a part of. DSMMA offers students and professors from different disciplines to collaborate in an interdisciplinary project which in turn broadens everyone's boundaries. Such opportunities are extremely precious to a grad student.

What advice would you give to graduate students interested in the DSMMA program?

It might seem a little tricky to get used to the lingo and the way of thinking of the other discipline but that's just a part of the process. 

What are your plans after completing the DSMMA program and graduation?

My PhD work also happens to have applications in physics.I haven't yet planned whether or not I'll remain in academia, but I plan to be involved in such interdisciplinary research.

Name: Abby Stokes

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Graduate Program: MS Data Science

Interests/Hobbies: Rock climbing, music, reading, traveling, and baking.

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

When I was applying for the Masters in Data Science program at the University of Minnesota, I saw a link to the DSMMA website and started learning about the emerging field of multi-messenger astrophysics. I have long been interested in astronomy / space, and the program seemed like a great opportunity to apply my data science education to a new and exciting field.

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities? 

The lakes! Specifically, I enjoy running or walking my dog around Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska, and Lake of the Isles.

Name: Bonnabelle Zabelle

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Elk River, MN

Graduate Program: Astrophysics PhD

Interests/Hobbies: Playing/making video games, knitting, and tattoos

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

I heard about the program upon researching the department and talking to some of the previous cohorts. I was originally interested because I wanted to have a more statistical focus to my PhD. I was also very interested in the data science aspect, being part of a massive telescope collaboration I had already had to work with large swaths of data, and I knew that with the proper training I could do that work more efficiently.

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities? 

Northeast Tea House

Name: Elliott Tanner

Pronouns: He/Him

Hometown: St. Louis Park

Graduate Program: Physics PhD

Interests/Hobbies: Card games, programming

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

I’ve always had an interest in astroparticle physics and dark matter, and when I learned about the program, I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about the topic.

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities? 

My favorite place in the Twin Cities is Dreamers Vault - St. Louis Park and Minnehaha Falls.

Name: Lindsey Gordon

Hometown: Wethersfield, CT

Graduate Program: Astrophysics PhD

Graduation Year: 2026

Interests/Hobbies: MHD simulations, AGN Jets, Science Communication (I'm a new astrobites.org author this year!)

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

I did a lot of work in astrophysical data science in undergrad, specifically working with big batches of TESS stellar time-series data. Machine learning methods have always interested me, so this program seemed like a natural extension of that.

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of the DSMMA program?

The access to resources, both in terms of funding and people. DSMMA allowed me to attend AAS in person for the first time last year. It's also put me in touch with many people with experience in stats that have been so useful for moving my project forward.

What advice would you give to graduate students interested in the DSMMA program?

Expect your project to mutate, and don't fight its evolution. I never could have told you that I was going to end up developing neural architecture searches when I started this project, but here we are.

What are your plans after completing the DSMMA program and graduation?

I have way too many ideas for what to do after I'm done at UMN and have no idea how I'm going to pick just one. It's a good problem to have :)

Name: Jacynda Alatoma

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Eden Prairie, MN

Graduate Program:  Master's in Data Science

Interests/Hobbies: Space, Consulting, Healthcare, Music, Physical Health

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

I heard about it through Professor Algeri in my last year of undergraduate studies. It seemed to align very well with my interests, as when I entered college as a freshman my planned major was Aerospace Engineering. I also have a close family member who has worked in the Astro-related fields for nearly 15 years now, and I grew up always hearing about the interesting things he was learning while in college and his jobs. I couldn't be more grateful to have learned about this program, I believed that my passion for space ended once I majored in something unrelated in undergrad. As I've finished my first semester, I am only more excited and interested in what more knowledge and experience there is to come!

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities?

One outdoor spot that I always recommend people to visit is walking around Lake Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis (their walking paths are connected and are super pretty during the summer). As for a food place, Malcolm Yards or Hola Arepa in Minneapolis are always my two go-to spots!

Name: Matthew Choquette

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Hometown: Blaine, Minnesota

Graduate Program: Data Science M.S.

Interests/Hobbies: Playing piano and guitar, listening to late 60-70's classic/art rock, biking, collecting baseball cards and U.S. state/national park quarters, reading sci-fi novels and short stories.

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

My undergraduate degree is in Physics, and after that I started working as a software quality assurance engineer in the traffic sensors industry. Through both of those, I learned I enjoy problem solving, learning how the universe works and writing computer programs to process and visualize data. That got me interested in Data Science, and being a native Minnesotan, I looked into the U of M and discovered the DSMMA program! I've had a persistent interest in astronomy since elementary school, so having the opportunity to contribute to cutting edge research made it all the better!

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities?

Saint Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge along the Mississippi River. 

Name: Tyler Barna

Pronouns: He/Him

Hometown: West Deptford, New Jersey

Graduate Program: Astrophysics PhD

Interests/Hobbies: Cooking, Music, Guitar, Art, Technology, Weightlifting

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

As an undergraduate, I developed a strong interest in observational astronomy, with a particular focus on the use of large all-sky surveys like TESS to investigate transient events. While motivated by astronomy, this is ultimately a data science problem, and I was drawn to the DSMMA program so I could pursue this topic further.

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities?

The Minneapolis Institute of Art presents art from a wide variety of time periods and styles; every time I've visited, I've discovered something new.

Name: Yuping Zheng

Hometown: Fujian Province, China

Graduate Program: PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Graduation Year: 2025

Interests/Hobbies: Climbing, swimming and bread baking

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program? 

I received an email from DSMMA in the first semester of my graduate school when I studied remotely from China. The program is appealing with the coursework, professional workshops, and capstone project where I can team up with an astrophysics student to work on a fun and challenging problem. My primary research is theoretical machine learning. Math can be hard to relate to the real life, so I want to gain some practical experience. Therefore, I decided to join DSMMA.

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities? 

Minneapolis Bouldering Project 

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of the DSMMA program? 

The two compulsory courses I took were very beneficial since they extended my knowledge as well as helping me to collaborate with classmates with different backgrounds. The capstone project is also very helpful to develop my skills in practical machine learning.

What advice would you give to graduate students interested in the DSMMA program? 

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have doubts. And it is ok to ask ‘stupid’ questions since nobody can be the expert on everything.

What are your plans after completing the DSMMA program and graduation? 

I want to stay in academia and keep doing interesting and challenging research.

Name: Mohammed Guiga

Hometown: Fridley, MN

Graduate Program: M.S. Data Science

Graduation Year:  2023

Interests/Hobbies: Traveling, cooking

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program? 

I became interested in the DSMMA program after seeing the opportunity pop up on my grad school application. I decided to look into the program more and it seemed very interesting!

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of the DSMMA program? 

The most beneficial parts of the program were the exposure to the field of astrophysics and the opportunity to meet and collaborate with people from different programs.

What advice would you give to graduate students interested in the DSMMA program? 

Start networking and thinking about your DSMMA capstone as early as possible!

What are your plans after completing the DSMMA program and graduation? 

Work in industry

Name: Will Benoit 

Hometown:  Bangor, ME

Graduate Program: PhD in Physics

Graduation Year: 2026

Interests/Hobbies: Board games, reading, rock climbing, running, hiking

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program? 

I was attracted by the gravitational wave research being done, and this program seemed like a great way to get into the field, and also to get exposure to areas that I might otherwise have missed.

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of the DSMMA program? 

I've benefited a lot from the structure the program has given to my overall curriculum. Having dates and deadlines planned out has helped in organizing my progression through grad school. For example, having an internship explicitly baked into my schedule was very cool - I'm not sure I would have done one otherwise.

What advice would you give to graduate students interested in the DSMMA program? 

I've certainly found it worthwhile, so give it a serious look! Talk to faculty, as well as past and current students who participated in it.

What are your plans after completing the DSMMA program and graduation? 

My goal, eventually, is to end up doing research at a national lab, so I'll be looking for a postdoc to get me in that direction.

Name: Nicole Sullivan

Hometown: Waconia, MN

Graduate Program: MS in Data Science

Graduation Year: 2023

Interests/Hobbies: Film photography, indoor rock climbing, downhill skiing, watching comedies

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program? 

When I was applying to the MS in DS program, I had independently kinda gotten fascinated with the subject of physics (albeit quantum) via some pop science books. Then I saw a blurb about the DSMMA program on the MS in DS website and it was like kismet! (:

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of the DSMMA program? 

Definitely the interdisciplinary connections. I've made friends in physics/astro, EE and even in my own program that I wouldn't have otherwise! Our cohort is not only filled with extremely smart people, but also kind, generous and thoughtful folks with such great senses of humor, and we really all came together. I have so many fond memories - Yuping making our Big Data group cookies and other baked goodies; Friday fun in the Tate observatory with Laura Salo, Juan, Henry and Yuping; testing Dragon's US geography knowledge on the whiteboard in the DSMMA office (which was a mistake - we did way worse on European geography even with our collective knowledge!! haha); Anjana, Andrew and I comparing notes on our respective high school experiences (which featured zip tie pranks and mouth pipetting). Honestly, this cohort is amazing and unforgettable - I'm going to miss them all so much.

What advice would you give to graduate students interested in the DSMMA program? 

Use your DSMMA office space! It sounds simple, but you have so many casual interactions that you wouldn't otherwise. Looking back, you'll be able to appreciate the privilege of being around all these amazing, wonderful people for all that time.

What are your plans after graduation? 

The plan right now is to keep working in industry as a clinical data scientist. (:

Name: Andrew Toivonen

Hometown: Appleton, WI

Graduate Program: PhD in Astrophysics

Graduation Year: ~ 2025

Interests/Hobbies: I enjoy many outdoor activities, whether that is hiking, skiing, or fishing. Growing up, I would spend time "up north" with family and friends at various lakes in Wisconsin. I also enjoy playing sports with my friends and two brothers.

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program? 

From the beginning of my physics research, I have always focused on computational/data science methods. This quickly became an interest of mine adjacent to physics, so this program was a perfect fit.

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of the DSMMA program? 

The DSMMA program allows us to learn useful skills from those outside of our field. It is common for experts in a specific field to have similar strengths and weaknesses, so working with students and professors in other areas of expertise, such as statistics and data science, has allowed me to develop new skills.

What advice would you give to graduate students interested in the DSMMA program? 

The DSMMA program is for students that want to broaden their horizons and gain useful skills outside of their primary field of interest. While taking classes and working with those outside of your primary field may seem daunting at first, you learn not only how to better communicate your work to others, but also how to apply new methods and ways of thinking to your current work.

What are your plans after graduation? 

While I am not sure on specifics, I plan to pursue a career that utilizes the programming and technical skills that I have developed in this program. I have interest in careers in both astrophysics, and data science/industry.

Name: Sam Penders

Pronouns: He/Him

Hometown: Apple Valley, MN

Graduate Program: M.S. in Data Science

Interests/Hobbies: Cooking, music, mountain biking, broomball

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

I have a B.S. in physics, so I had an existing interest in astrophysics. The DSMMA program was the perfect opportunity to combine my interests in data science and astrophysics while getting hands-on experience in the fields.

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities? 

Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis

Name: Aritra Banerjee

Pronouns: He/Him

Graduate Program: PhD in Statistics

Interests/Hobbies: Learning foreign languages and reading novels

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

Astrophysics is something that has always intrigued me but being a Stats major I never had enough time to really dig deep into it. Then when I joined the Stats PhD program at UMN I was notified by my department about this program and it sounded like the perfect symphony of two of my interests, Statistics and Astrophysics. That's why I decided to join this program and it has given me an excellent exposure to the data science applications in multi-messenger astrophysics which I believe will help me a lot in my career.

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities? 

Minnehaha falls

Name: Ana Elena Uribe

Pronouns: she/her

Hometown: Lynden, Washington

Graduate Program: MS in Computer Science

Interests/Hobbies: Outside of my graduate program, I am interested in migrant farmworker rights and social/environmental justice. I changed career paths from education to computer science, but am still passionate about education. I love to swim, read or dance when I get the chance, and am learning to knit.

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program? 

Astrophysics is a field I have been interested in but never had the opportunity to pursue. This program seemed like a good way to hone my data science skills and take a part in it. Plus, the program itself had many things I wanted: Many of the problems I am interested in require interdisciplinary collaboration, and solving them with computer science means working with large, noisy, and simulated data. The DSMMA program provides many opportunities for me to work with other people in different fields, and with the type of data I am interested in. Also, since my family moved to the U.S. from Mexico when I was young, having the support and advising from the program has helped me navigate graduate school and exposed me to so many more experiences than I would have ever seeked out for myself.

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities? 

Having moved here in late summer and starting my masters soon after, I haven't visited a lot of places in the Twin Cities yet. I have enjoyed going to the Cafe Meow, a cat cafe in Minneapolis, for obvious reasons, and I love looking at the trees in the courtyard outside Northrop.

Name: Alex Granados

Pronouns: He/Him

Hometown: South Orange, NJ & Allen, TX

Graduate Program: Physics PhD Program

Interests/Hobbies: Biking, hiking, origami, drawing, painting, watching TV/movies

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program? 

When the DSMMA program was first introduced to me during the application/interview process to UMN, I looked at the website and saw all the interesting research being done, and knew I wanted to be a part of it.

What is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities? 

The West River Parkway biking/walking trail along the Mississippi between the Stone Arch Bridge and Minnehaha Falls.

Name: Taarak Shah

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Graduate Program: MS Statistics

Graduation Year: 2022

Interests: Statistics, economics, NFL (and sports analytics!), Premier League, Rocket League

How did you become interested in the Data Science in Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (DSMMA) Program?

I became interested in the DSMMA program when Dr. Galin Jones advertised a brand-new NSF-funded program for students starting their Master's program to get hands on experience with the application of different statistical techniques. My motivation to pursue a graduate degree was to gain more applied knowledge of statistics in different domains, and this program seemed like a great fit for my goals and interests.

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of the DSMMA program?

The most beneficial part of the program for me was the connections to faculty and other students who were invested in the program. I was able to learn from a lot of bright individuals in both statistics and astrophysics about their research directions and approaches.

What advice would you give to graduate students interested in the DSMMA program?

Be open to learning from others and their experiences, and do not be afraid to ask questions. There is a gap in understanding from a statistics student like myself who has not been exposed to graduate-level astrophysics theory. It took time to bridge the gap and speak a common language between the two fields, but it was rewarding once we ultimately were able to do so.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to work in industry as a data scientist once I complete my MS in May 2022.

Scarlata named Distinguished McKnight Professor

Congratulations to DSMMA Faculty  member, Professor Claudia Scarlata, on  being named a 2022 Distinguished McKnight Professor. Professor Scarlata was recognized for her significant contributions to the study of the sources responsible for the last major transformation.