Jeff Coughlin
Jeff earned a PhD in Astronomy in 2012 from New Mexico State University, writing his dissertation on the fundamental parameters of exoplanets and their host stars. He worked for a decade with the SETI Institute on NASA's Kepler Mission. He developed automated classification techniques to find planets around other stars, including some similar to Earth, culminating in Kepler's discovery that about half of stars like the Sun have an Earth-sized planet where liquid water could exist. He earned NASA's Exceptional Engineering Achievement Award in 2016, and was the Director of the Kepler Science Office for 5 years, leading teams to make out-of-this-world discoveries and provide quality data products to the public.
When not looking up at the stars, Jeff serves on his local City Council, volunteers for his local history museum, and enjoys being a papa to his son Max.
When not looking up at the stars, Jeff serves on his local City Council, volunteers for his local history museum, and enjoys being a papa to his son Max.