Pinchen Fan

I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State University. My pronouns are she/her/hers.

Currently, I work on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Specifically, I search for infrared laser technosignatures from planets around M-dwarfs using the Habitable-Zone Planet Finder on the 10-meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope. I use the Allen Telescope Array to look for radio technosignatures from planet-hosting stars. I also work on several projects aimed at investigating how to look for Earth-level technosignatures.

Before coming to Penn State, I received my undergraduate degree in physics with a minor in math at Carleton College in 2022. I worked on gravitational-wave (GW) research at Carleton and the MIT LIGO Lab. I used LIGO GW data to measure the speed of GWs and test general relativity. I also worked on several projects that used statistical methods and machine learning to improve LIGO detector sensitivity in real-time.

My main research interests are SETI, biosignature detection, exoplanet detection and characterization, and gravitational waves. Besides research, I also lead and participate in many DEI/outreach/service activities, including serving on the AAS committee for Sexual-orientation and Gender Minorities in Astronomy (SGMA). In my free time, I do astrophotography with my PTO (Pinchen’s Tiny Observatory).