Juan Pablo Alfonzo

ASTROPHYSiCS GRADUATE STUDENT · ASTROSTATiSTiCS · GALAXY FORMATiON & EVOLUTiON

Astronomical Institute, Tohoku University
6-3 Aramaki, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan 980-8578
 juanpabloalfonzo@astr.tohoku.ac.jp|  juanpabloalfonzo.github.io/|  juanpabloalfonzo|  juan-pablo-alfonzo-7b9623201

SummaryMy research lies in the area of galaxy evolution and formation within astrophysics. My research area in particular is very programming/computationallyheavy. I like describing my area of research as an intersection between astronomy, statistics, and computer science, specifically machinelearning and deep learning. A lot of the work I have done and hope to continue doing heavily involves programming and using Python basedalgorithms. These algorithms have a heavy emphasis on machine learning and artificial neural networks to help answer research questions
associated with galaxy evolution and formation.

Education
Tohoku University (東北大学)

Sendai, JapanPHD iN ASTRONOMY

Oct. 2022 ‑ Oct. 2027

• Supervisors: Prof. Masayuki Akiyama & Dr. Kartheik Iyer (Columbia University/Flatiron Institute)

University of Toronto

Toronto, Canada

HONS. BSC. iN ASTRONOMY AND PHYSiCS

Sept. 2017 ‑ Jun. 2021

• Math minor and Philosophy minor• Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Mubdi Rahman

Research Experience
Tohoku University (東北大学)

Sendai, JapanGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHER

Oct 2022‑ Present• Working on applying machine learning and deep learning techniques to problems in various areas of astronomy• Primarily interested in extra‑galactic astronomy• Supervisor: Prof. Masayuki Akiyama & Dr. Kartheik Iyer (Columbia University/Flatiron Institute)

University of Toronto

Toronto, Canada

SURP RESEARCHER/ RESEARCH SCHOLARMay 2021 ‑ Sept 2022

• Working on training a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify galaxies in the MaNGA survey, while studying what features of thegalaxies the neural network is focusing on to make the classification with the use of CAM methods.
• Network being created and trained using the pytorch Python package and working in a Linux based environment and using Google Colab• Final goal is to have the CNN be able to predict the star forming history of the galaxies from their visual image and spectral information. Aim tonot only having a working CNN but to be able to pick it apart to understand how it is making decisions and extract relevant physics• Project Supervisor: Dr. Kathreik Iyer (Dunlap Institute)
University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Aug. 2020 ‑ Apr. 2021

• Investigated morphological changes in galaxies as they evolve in time, by studying their internal kinematics using the MaNGA survey.
• Analysis being done using Python based code with heavy use of machine learning algorithms such as DB scan and PCA from the sci‑kit
learn library. Full write up of project can be found here
• Unique use of PCA which focused more on using the actual PC vectors rather than using them as the basis in a PC profile plot
• Project Supervisor: Dr. Mubdi Rahman (Dunlap Institute)First‑Author Publications
2024

Katachi (形): Decoding the Imprints of Past Star Formation on Present Day Morphology in Galaxies
with Interpretable CNNs, Alfonzo J., Iyer K., Akiyama M., et al., ApJ 967 152
Full Publication List, NASA ADS

Selected Presentations and Talks
10th Galaxy Evolution Workshop

Taipei, Taiwan

CONTRiBUTED TALKAUGUST 17, 2024

Aug. 6‑9, 2024

JUAN PABLO ALFONZO · CV1SUPER‑IRNET Workshop 2024

Beppu, JapanCONTRiBUTED TALKJul. 23‑26, 2024

IPMU Astrophysics Lunch Talk

Kashiwa, Japan

INViTED TALKJun. 18, 2024

ELT Science in Light of JWSTSendai, JapanPOSTER PRESENTATiON

Jun. 3 ‑ Jun. 7, 2024

Recipes to Regulate Star Formation at All Scales

Baltimore, USA

POSTER PRESENTATiONApr 15 ‑ Apr 19, 2024

East Asian Young Astronomers Meeting 2024

Chiang Mai, Thailand

POSTER PRESENTATiONJan 30 ‑ Feb 2, 2024

AI‑Driven Discovery in Physics and Astrophysics

Kashiwa, Japan

FLASH TALK PRESENTER

Jan 22 ‑ Jan 26, 2024

Machine Learning in Astronomical Surveys (IAP/CCA 2023)

Paris, France & New York, USA

POSTER PRESENTATiON (REMOTE)

Nov 27 ‑ Dec 1, 2023

Resolving UniverseTokyo, JapanPOSTER PRESENTATiONNov 5‑10, 2023

Statistical Challenges in Modern Astronomy VIII

State College, USA

POSTER PRESENTATiON

June 12‑16, 2023

ART (Astrostats) Meeting

Toronto, Canada

SEMiNAR TALKMar. 30, 2023

9th Galaxy Evolution Workshop

Kyoto, JapanCONTRiBUTED TALKFeb. 21, 2023

HSC‑AGN Meeting 2022

Kagoshima, JapanCONTRiBUTED TALK

Dec. 2, 2022

SDSS Collaboration Meeting 2021

Baltimore, USA

PRESENTER iN DATA 1 SERiES AND LiGHTiNG TALK 1 SERiES

Aug. 11, 2021

AwardsSUPER‑IRNET Travel Funding

Baltimore, USA

POSTER PRESENTER

Apr 15 ‑ Apr 19, 2024

• Secured full travel and accommodation funding to present a poster at a star‑formation conference at STScI. (¥550,000)

Graduate Program on Physics and the Universe (GPPU) Fellowship
GPPU STUDENT

Sendai, Japan
April 2024 ‑ Oct 2027

• Fellowship for the graduate program at Tohoku University for Physics and Astronomy PhD students. The fellowship provides full financial fund‑ing to students, including travel funding. (≈ ¥11,500,000)

GPPU Applicant Travel Funding

Chiang Mai, Thailand

POSTER PRESENTER

Jan 29 ‑ Feb 3, 2024

• Secured full travel and accommodation funding to present a poster at East Asia Young Astronomers Meeting 2024 hosted by NARIT (¥237,540)

AI‑Driven Discovery in Physics and Astrophysics Travel Funding
WORKSHOP ATTENDEE & PRESENTER

Kashiwa, JapanJan 22 ‑ Jan 26, 2024

• Secured full travel and accommodation funding to attend and present at an AI/ML x Physics/Astrophysics workshop at Kavli IPMU (¥50,000)
AUGUST 17, 2024

JUAN PABLO ALFONZO · CV2SUPER‑IRNET Travel Funding

Tokyo, JapanPOSTER PRESENTER

Nov 5 ‑ Nov 10, 2023

• Secured full travel and accommodation funding to present a poster at an ALMA and JWST conference at Waseda University. (¥76,940)

SUPER‑IRNET Travel Funding

State College, USA

POSTER PRESENTER

June 4‑ June 17, 2023

• Secured full travel and accommodation funding to attend an astrostats summer school and to do a poster presentation at an astrostats confer‑ence at Penn State. (¥734,525)

9th Galaxy Evolution Workshop Travel Funding

Kyoto, JapanCONTRiBUTED TALK SPEAKER

Feb 19‑25, 2023

• Secured full travel and accommodation funding from the conference (¥66,004)

HSC‑AGN f2f Meeting Travel Funding

Kagoshima, JapanCONTRiBUTED TALK SPEAKER

Nov 29‑Dec 3, 2022

• Secured full travel and accommodation funding from the conference (¥98,623)

2022 Embassy Recommended Research MEXT Scholar
GRADUATE STUDENT

Sendai, JapanOct 2022 ‑ Oct 2024

• The Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (in Japanese: Monbukagakusho, English acronym: MEXT) offers
scholarships to Canadian students wishing to pursue their studies at a Japanese university. For graduate studies (non‑degree, masters ordoctorate) in any university subjects. Scholarship provides: full tuition coverage, monthly allowance, round‑trip between Canada and Japan,and Japanese language training. Information can be found here (≈ ¥10,000,000)• Offered extension to PhD course, but declined due to a fellowship being awarded

2021 SURP Top Poster AwardToronto, Canada

POSTER PRESENTER

Aug 13, 2021

• Won top poster award for poster conference that was held to summarize all research projects carried out in the SURP program at the Universityof Toronto in the summer of 2021 ($50)

AUGUST 17, 2024

JUAN PABLO ALFONZO · CV3