Summary
Christopher Theissen is an Assistant Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC San Diego with 11 years of experience bridging academic research and data science. He holds a PhD in Astronomy and dual BS degrees in Physics and Applied Mathematics, and applies machine learning, Bayesian methods, and advanced coding (Python, C++, Matlab) to tackle observational and theoretical problems. His career includes a NASA Sagan Fellowship, postdoctoral research across top universities, and a stint as a lead data scientist in industry, reflecting fluency in both research and production analytics. Known for turning complex astrophysical inference into reproducible code, he combines deep statistical rigor with pragmatic software engineering. Based in California, he brings a rare mix of hands-on data science, academic leadership, and applied problem-solving across astronomy and industry.
11 years of coding experience
8 years of employment as a software developer
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Applied Mathematics, Bachelor of Arts (BA), Applied Mathematics at University of California, San Diego
Bachelor of Science - BS, Physics, Bachelor of Science - BS, Physics at University of California San Diego
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Astronomy, Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Astronomy at Boston University