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Noah Stiegler

Headshot of Noah Stiegler
Program Year:
1
University:
University of California, Berkeley
Field of Study:
Astrophysics
Advisor:
Michael Bottom
and Jessica Lu
Degree(s):
B.S. Engineering Physics, Tufts University, 2025

Summary of Research

I work at the intersection of astronomical instrumentation and computational science, applying machine learning alongside high-fidelity and digital twin simulations to advance observational capabilities. My research centers on the design and control of instruments incorporating adaptive optics, using data-driven techniques to optimize the performance of ground- and space-based observatory systems. These improvements support a range of scientific goals, from the direct imaging of exoplanets to the use of precise gravitational microlensing measurements to weigh black holes. Beyond individual science cases, these methods are also applicable to observatory operations, enabling greater total scientific throughput. I am particularly interested in how these methods can be scaled for future missions like the upcoming Extremely Large Telescopes and Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Publications

Papers:
Martin, David et al. (including Stiegler, N.) "BEBOP VII: A TESS Search for Transiting Circumbinary Planets Within the Radial Velocity Catalog" submission to Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society late 2026 (in prep)

Stiegler, N., Tremblay, C. et al. "A High Frequency Search for Technosignatures with COSMIC on the VLA" submission to Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific late 2026 (in prep)

Tremblay, C., Myburgh, T., Stiegler, N., Czech, D., Demorest, P., Donnachie, R. A., Lebofsky, M., MacMahon, D. E., et al. "COSMIC's Large Scale Search for Technosignatures during the VLA sky Survey II. Data Quality and Search" submission to Astronomy and Astrophysics mid 2026 (in prep)

Surendran, A., Delorme, J., van Dam, M., Correia, C., Marin, E., Bouchez, A., Wizinowich, P., Cetre, S., Conod, U., Taylor, J., Lilley, S., Wetherell, E., Lu, J., Stiegler, N., Pusack, A., Haggard, Z., Gauvin, W., Bernard, J., Pescoller, D., Biasi, R. "On-sky capabilities and performance of the Keck All sky Precision Adaptive optics system," submitted to Adaptive Optics Systems X at SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, Copenhagen, July 2026

Peck, B., Lu, J. R., Wang, L., DiGia, B., Dekany, R., Bouchez, A. H., Wizinowich, P., Millar-Blanchaer, M. A., Chun, M., Hinz, P., Claveau, C-A., Stiegler, N. "A Pathway Towards Visible-Light AO At W. M. Keck Observatory," submitted to Adaptive Optics Systems X at SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, Copenhagen, July 2026

Myburgh, T., Stiegler, N., Tremblay, C. D., Bright, J. S., Donnachie, R. A. "The VLA and High-Frequency SETI: Expanding the Search for Life" submitted to Acta Astronautica January 2026

Myburgh, T. Tremblay, C., Bright, J., Stiegler, N. "The VLA and High-Frequency SETI: Expanding the Search for Life," 54th IAA Symposium on SETI - The Next Steps, IAC (January 2025)

Posters:
Stiegler, Noah, Tremblay, Chenoa D. "A High Frequency Technosignature Search with COSMIC and the VLA" iPoster for the 245th AAS Winter Meeting, National Harbor, MD (January 2025)

Presentations:
Stiegler, Noah, Tremblay, Chenoa D. Fall 2024. "A High Frequency Technosignature Search with COSMIC and the VLA". Oral presentation: Department Seminar in Astronomy on Student Research, Tufts University, Medford, MA.

Stiegler, Noah, Tremblay, Chenoa D. Summer 2024. "A High Frequency Technosignature Search with COSMIC and the VLA". Oral presentation: Breakthrough Discuss 2024 Intern Lightning Talks, Oxford, University, Oxford, UK.

Stiegler, Noah Summer 2023. "The Case of the Exploding Laser Diodes: A Step Towards Making Them Brighter". Oral Presentation: Lawrence Livermore National Lab Summer Research SLAM 2023, Livermore, CA.

Awards

Berkeley Fellow, University of California, Berkeley, 2025-2026 Academic Year
Outstanding GSI Award, University of California, Berkeley, Fall 2025
Benjamin G Brown Scholarship, Tufts University, Spring 2025
Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award Honorable Mention, AAS 245th Winter Meeting, 2025
Stabile Scholarship, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, 2024
Department Outreach and Research Award, Tufts University, 2024
Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society Inductee, Tufts University, 2023
IEEE HKN Honor Society Inductee, Tufts University 2023
Tau Beta Pi Honor Society Inductee, Tufts University 2023
Tufts Dean's List all semesters ('21, '22, '23, '24, '25)
FEEA Merit and Service Scholarship, Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, 2020