Joanne Tan (@tanofspace)

I am a PhD researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA), as part of the IMPRS on Astrophysics program. I primarily work with Dr. Thorsten Naab on topics broadly related to the cosmological formation and evolution of massive galaxies. My current research focuses on studying the multiphase circumgalactic medium (CGM) — we probe into metal absorption lines to trace the various phases of the CGM in cosmological simulations, in hopes of better understanding the enigmatic CGM.

Check out my research here!

Why "tanofspace"?

Well, because there is a ton of space! *ba dum tss* and because there is a piece of space for everyone.

In all seriousness, it's just me playing a pun on my last name. My last name "Tan" is pronounced just like the word "ton" (in both American and British English), instead of something one gets after prolonged sun exposure. It is also definitely not the two-digit number one gets from multiplying 2 and 5 :>

My academic journey prior to MPA

Before coming to MPA, I completed my master's degree in astronomy at Texas A&M University in May 2020. There, my research focused on tidal disruption events in AGNs hosted by dwarf galaxies, and stellar kinematics of massive galaxies as a means of black hole mass measurement. I also completed a concentration in astrostatistics.

Taking another step back chronologically, I completed my undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley (Go Bears!), with a double major in astrophysics and physics, in Dec 2019. My research project then focuses on estimating the rotation periods of Kepler/Gaia stars due to stellar activities. I also dabbled in ancient astronomy, in which we use astronomical data to date Neo-Assyrian letters.

Head over here to learn more about my past research!

More of my journey

I was born and raised in Kuching, Sarawak, a small city located in the northwestern region of Borneo Island. I then moved to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, for pre-university studies, before moving to the United States to pursue my undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley. After four years in Berkeley, I then moved halfway across the continental US to pursue graduate education at Texas A&M University. Two years later, I moved yet again, this time to Munich, Germany, a city that some consider the heart of Europe. Following this trend, it is reasonable to conjecture that the future holds a few more (but please just a few more!) moves around the world.

Life outside of astronomy

During my meager free time (after accounting for procrastination), I enjoy playing video games, lurking (way too much) on Reddit, and watching Netflix.

Food is my passion — I enjoy eating good food and cooking delicious meals. However, I must confess that I have indulged in too many food videos on YouTube (in my defense, for new ideas and inspiration!). This interest relates to another hobby of mine: going on food adventures, whether solo or with friends. I love exploring and hunting for the best food around me — whether trying new cuisines or discovering new food places, they *always* keep me excited.

Besides that, I also enjoy chasing and photographing sunsets (and sunrises too, when they occur after 7am :>). I may even consider curating a collection of the sunrises/sunsets I've photographed in a dedicated gallery — stay tuned! :> Another passion of mine is traveling and seeing/experiencing as much of the world as possible.

Last but not least, writing fiction and poetry has gradually taken hold of my ever-growing list of interests. There are moments when I find myself spontaneously inspired to craft a haiku or two.

Doggos? Doggos!

Dogs are one of my greatest loves, as I grew up with many doggos at home. This means that I will always be partial to dogs, and I will be extremely happy when anyone sends me pictures or videos of doggos.