Pacific

At Pacific, even undergraduate students have the opportunity to work on the universe's biggest questions

cultivating a passion for curiosity and a drive for discovery.

As they unravel these mysteries, they participate in cutting-edge research

learning and working alongside our astrophysics faculty.

At Pacific, even undergraduate students have the opportunity to work on the universe's biggest questions, cultivating a passion for curiosity and a drive for discovery.

As they unravel these mysteries, they participate in cutting-edge research, learning and working alongside our astrophysics faculty.

“Astronomy starts with a sense of wonder. You look up at the night sky. You wonder, ‘What are those things up there?’ That's how it starts.”
Daniel Jontof-HutterDaniel Jontof-Hutter

Daniel Jontof-Hutter

Associate Professor of Physics

Exoplanets

Associate Professor Daniel Jontof-Hutter is immersed in what he calls the “golden age of exoplanet research,” planets that orbit stars beyond the solar system.

“It's unfathomably large. It's unfathomably empty. There's still so much about space that we don't understand. And so, it's just the mystery of it, the grandeur of it.”
Dustin ("Dusty") MadisonDustin ("Dusty") Madison

Dustin ("Dusty") Madison

Assistant Professor of Physics

Gravitational
Waves

Madison is part of a scientific team called NANOGrav (North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves) that broke new ground in the detection of gravitational waves, a concept that, until recently, had remained only theoretical.

“Half of the ultra-diffuse galaxies in the Virgo Cluster have a ridiculously huge amount of dark matter. With the physics we know, we cannot explain it.”
Elisa TolobaElisa Toloba

Elisa Toloba

Associate Professor of Physics

Galaxy
Formation

What do the movements of stars tell us about how galaxies are formed? What role does dark matter play? What does the percentage of old stars to new ones tell us about a galaxy's evolution? Elisa Toloba is answering these questions.

“I have been focusing on the most exciting puzzles. The things that we don't understand. It drives me, trying to figure out what could these objects be.”
Guillermo BarroGuillermo Barro

Guillermo Barro

Associate Professor of Physics

Distant
Galaxies

Using data from NASA's new James Webb Telescope, Guillermo Barro is looking to the farthest observable reaches of outer space to infer fundamental properties and learn more about the workings of our own Milky Way.

James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Telescope

At NASA's Goddard space flight center

"We use the telescope as a time machine..."

- Guillermo Barro

James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Telescope

At NASA's Goddard space flight center

"We use the telescope
as a time machine..."

- Guillermo Barro

NGC 4449 "Starburst"

12.5 Million

light years away

M74 "Phantom Galaxy"

32 million

light years away

NGC 1300

69 million

light years away

Cartwheel Galaxy

100 million

light years away

Cosmic Gem Arc

13.24 billion

light years away

(460 million years after big bang)

"There is no better experience in getting an undergraduate degree

than actually doing research."

- Daniel Jontof-Hutter

"There is no better experience in getting an undergraduate degree

than actually doing research."

- Daniel Jontof-Hutter

Real Opportunities
For Students

As Pacific faculty unravel some of the world's biggest mysteries, students are learning and working alongside them, cultivating a passion for curiosity and a drive to discover.

Andrew Baker Sanchez
Andrew Baker Sanchez
Exoplanets
“It feels great to be under the supervision and direction of somebody (Daniel Jontof-Hutter) who is an expert in this field. It helps me feel more confident about my abilities to be able to do this and have a result that's meaningful to the larger scientific community.”
Joseph Kruse
Joseph Kruse
Galaxy Formation
“The research was very independent. She (Elisa Toloba) gave me some of the data she collected from the Keck Observatory and would give me weekly tasks. She gave me space to be my own thinker, and then if I needed guidance, she was there to talk me through it.”
Kadri Nizam
Kadri Nizam
Exoplanets
“Being part of this collaboration (with Daniel Jontof-Hutter) was a valuable experience as an undergraduate. It allowed me to apply the skills that I acquired in class and gave me insight into the tireless effort that goes into pushing the boundaries of science.”
Mark Castaneda
Mark Castaneda
Engineering Physics
“As a first-generation, low-income, non-traditional, formerly homeless, formerly incarcerated student, I have overcome many adversities and challenges. The immense support I've received from faculty has allowed me to thrive beyond measure.”

Real Opportunities
For Students

As Pacific faculty unravel some of the world's biggest mysteries, students are learning and working alongside them, cultivating a passion for curiosity and a drive to discover.

Andrew Baker Sanchez
Andrew Baker Sanchez
Exoplanets
“It feels great to be under the supervision and direction of somebody (Daniel Jontof-Hutter) who is an expert in this field. It helps me feel more confident about my abilities to be able to do this and have a result that's meaningful to the larger scientific community.”
Joseph Kruse
Joseph Kruse
Galaxy Formation
“The research was very independent. She (Elisa Toloba) gave me some of the data she collected from the Keck Observatory and would give me weekly tasks. She gave me space to be my own thinker, and then if I needed guidance, she was there to talk me through it.”
Kadri Nizam
Kadri Nizam
Exoplanets
“Being part of this collaboration (with Daniel Jontof-Hutter) was a valuable experience as an undergraduate. It allowed me to apply the skills that I acquired in class and gave me insight into the tireless effort that goes into pushing the boundaries of science.”
Mark Castaneda
Mark Castaneda
Engineering Physics
“As a first-generation, low-income, non-traditional, formerly homeless, formerly incarcerated student, I have overcome many adversities and challenges. The immense support I've received from faculty has allowed me to thrive beyond measure.”

Innovation
at Pacific

Pacific faculty set their students up for success, whether in astronomy careers exploring distant galaxies to better understand our own, inspiring high school students' interest in science or the humanities, working on Wall Street or becoming digital designers.

  • Research opportunities for undergraduate students
  • Personal faculty mentoring
  • Cutting-edge spaces
  • Opportunities to participate in professional conferences
  • Academic trips around the world

Pacific opens the world to students

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