About Me

I am an astronomer, currently appointed as a Flatiron Research Fellow at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics. Previously, I completed my Ph.D. in Penn State’s Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics working with Prof. Eric Ford. I earned by B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I worked with Prof. Sheila Kannapan, and spent my spare time swimming and also studying Latin.

My research is primarily focused on stellar spectroscopic variability, specifically with application to the radial velocity (RV) method for exoplanet detection. To this end, I have developed semi-empirical models of granulation in solar spectra, characterized changes in the solar convective blueshift from magnetic inhomogeneities, and developed methods for inferring stellar convective velocity fields directly from high-resolution spectra. These projects (and others) are described in greater detail on my research page. I am also a member of the NEID team, and the Terra Hunting Experiment.

In my free time, you can probably find me running, climbing, or hiking somewhere.

The best way to get in touch with me is via email: mpalumbo@flatironinstitute.org