Project Description: The Galactic Center (GC) is the most energetic region in the Milky Way and contains the highest concentration of stars along any line-of-sight in the sky. It is a rich environment for discovery, including pulsars, transient phenomena, and potential technosignatures – signals that may indicate advanced technological activity beyond Earth. This is a joint-project; there will be an equal emphasis on technosignature searches and pulsar/transient science, utilizing the same radio datasets to explore both natural and potential artificial signals.
As part of the Breakthrough Listen program, which aims to search for technosignatures, we have collected ~30 hours of observations with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) at X-band (8-12 GHz). These data also allow for complementary pulsar and transient science, and analysis of ~20 hours of data has already revealed a promising millisecond (MSP) candidate (Perez et al. 2026).
The selected intern will work across both areas. On the technosignature side, the intern will analyze GBT data using existing tools (BLISS and BLIPPS) to search for narrowband and broadband signals, and will gain experience interpreting candidate signals and distinguishing astrophysical signals and those with potential artificial origins from radio frequency interference. On the pulsar/transient side, the intern will conduct periodicity and single-pulse searches to identify new pulsar candidates in the Galactic Center using tools such as PRESTO and SPANDAK, including analysis of ~12 hours of follow-up observations with the GBT.
In addition, we have obtained ~7 hours of Very Large Array (VLA) data at X-band to follow-up on the MSP candidate and search for additional pulsars. The intern will perform periodicity searches using this data. Because the VLA is an interferometer, these observations also allow for imaging-based analyses. Time-frequency data cubes can be constructed to search for periodic or transient signals in the imaging domain, using tools such as CASA and CARTA. If time permits, the intern may explore and develop search methods for aperiodic technosignatures—a largely unexplored parameter space.
No prior experience with these tools is required. A willingness to learn, curiosity, and interest in radio astronomy are the most important qualifications. The intern will be supported through regular mentorship (a mix of in-person and virtual) and will be invited to participate in virtual meetings with the larger team, including the Berkeley SETI Research Center, the SETI Institute, and the Breakthrough Listen collaboration, providing opportunities to present their work weekly or biweekly and receive feedback from the radio astronomy and technosignature community. Relevant papers to learn more:
-“On the Deepest Search for Galactic Center Pulsars and an Examination of an Intriguing Millisecond Pulsar Candidate” (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae336c/meta)
-“The Breakthrough Listen Search For Intelligent Life Near the Galactic Center. I.” (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/abfd36)
-“Searching for Broadband Pulsed Beacons from 1883 Stars Using Neural Networks” (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ac6dd5)
NASA Relevance: This project aligns with NASA’s Science Mission Directorate by advancing astrophysics research in high-energy and radio time-domain astronomy through pulsar and transient searches, as well as contributing to the search for life beyond Earth through technosignature searches, both toward the most energetic region in our Galaxy---the Galactic Center.
Work Description:
• Perform technosignature searches (narrowband, wideband/broadband) using GBT data
• Perform pulsar searches (periodicity and single-pulse) using GBT and VLA data
• Identify and evaluate candidate signals (both astrophysical and potential technosignatures)
• Contribute to the development and/or optimization of search pipelines
• (if time permits) Analyze imaging data for periodic or transient signals
• (if time permits) Develop aperiodic technosignatures search methods
• Present progress and results in group meetings
Open or Reserved Project: Open, 1 position available.