General Contact: mylesbsherman@gmail.com
Academic Contact: msherman@caltech.edu
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6573-7316
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myles-sherman/
GitHub: https://github.com/mbsherma
I am an electrical engineer and physicist from Woodbridge, Virginia. In 2017 I completed my Bachelors of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Physics at Carnegie Mellon University, and I am currently completing my PhD at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California.
My research at Caltech is focused on developing analysis and search software for the Deep Synoptic Array (DSA-110) radio telescope at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. The DSA-110’s 96 antennas use interferometry to search for mysterious bursts of radio light from outside our galaxy called Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). I study the nature of FRBs using their polarization properties, and try to understand what astrophysical objects could produce such bright events.
The leading candidates are magnetars, a type of compact object leftover when massive stars explode at the ends of their lives. These are the most highly magnetized objects in the universe, and I’ve focused on understanding how they form, how they obtain their large magnetic fields, and how their properties differ from other similar objects like pulsars.
Beyond research, I have a passion for STEM outreach and education, particularly in making science easy to access and understand for people from all academic backgrounds. I have developed labs, workshops, and interactive demos to teach middle and high schoolers about electronics, programming, radio astronomy, telescopes, and stellar evolution. I believe that a combination of active learning techniques, interactivity, and engagement with students’ unique learning styles make for the most effective and enjoyable learning experience!
Myles B. Sherman 