My current interests include dark energy studies using weak lensing and searches for signatures of dark matter. As the LSST Camera Project Scientist, essentially all of my available research time is now devoted to working with colleagues on the LSST Camera, which is currently being integrated at SLAC. LSST first light will be in 2021, and the ten-year science survey will start in 2022.

The LSST group at UCSC/SCIPP continues to grow, and there are often opportunities for new students to join the group. Current members (as of August 2019):

• Graduate students Renee Nichols, Adrian Shestakov, and Duncan Wood are working on several different analyses of Camera test data. This is an exciting time to learn how the as-built Camera will actually perform and to ensure it will have the needed scientific performance.
• Undergrad Ben Zhu is studying the as-built filter transmission curves.
• Undergrad (now specialist) Olivia Ross is looking at new ways to apply machine-learning techniques to analyze LSST data. We have now started discussing these ideas with colleagues in Deep Skies.

We are interested in the full chain: how the hardware is put together and performs all the way through science data analysis. There are many interesting problems to solve!

Other faculty and researchers working on LSST and related projects include: Connie Rockosi, Alexie Leauthaud, Tesla Jeltema, and Brant Robertson.

Please see the About link (also above) for more background information. Here are some useful links for learning more about LSST:

• LSST Overview Paper
• LSST Science Book
• LSST information for scientists
• Here’s a recent talk to graduate students about SCIPP, LSST, and opportunities in the group.