Klaus Pontoppidan
Research Scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
South Pasadena, California, United States
Summary
👤
Senior🎓
Top SchoolKlaus Pontoppidan is an astrophysicist and research scientist with 14+ years translating cutting-edge space science into operational instruments and software, most notably as the Science & Operations Center Project Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope. He designed and led major JWST science-support tools and was the Principal Investigator behind the Early Release Observations that produced JWST’s iconic color imagery. Klaus combines deep expertise in infrared imaging, molecular imaging spectroscopy, and radiative transfer modeling with hands-on development of science analysis software and large data-set processing pipelines. His leadership style prioritizes matching skillsets to roles, delegation with accountability, and a willingness to dive into detailed technical work when needed—qualities that suit interdisciplinary teams at institutions like JPL and STScI. Based in South Pasadena, he continues to drive research into planet formation and habitable worlds while bridging the gap between science goals and engineering implementation.
14 years of coding experience
18 years of employment as a software developer
PhD, Astrophysics, PhD, Astrophysics at Leiden UniversityBSc/MSc, Astrophysics/Mathematics, BSc/MSc, Astrophysics/Mathematics at Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen
Github Skills (16)
raycasting10
sd-card9
infrared9
spectra7
opengl6
model-fitting4
gis3
python3
science3
astronomy2
tool-kit2
visualization1
cpp1
binning1
simulator1
Programming languages (4)
Github contributions (5)
pontoppi/radlite
Aug 2011 - Nov 2020
RADLite is the fast 2D/3D raytracer for infrared lines
Contributions:212 commits, 7 PRs, 18 pushes in 9 years 4 months
sd-cardlinesraycastingopenglraytracer
pontoppi/pytexes
Sep 2014 - Nov 2017
Contributions:16 commits, 10 pushes in 3 years 2 months
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