About Me

Astronomy Ph.D. student at Caltech

Tatum at sunrise on Maunakea

I'm a rising second-year Astronomy Ph.D. student at Caltech, interested in astronomical instrumentation and optical engineering, with a particular focus on adaptive optics. Before Caltech, I earned my B.S. in Astrophysics and B.A. in Information & Computer Sciences at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, where I got my start in instrumentation as an Akamai Intern at the W.M. Keck Observatory.

When I'm not in the lab or at the telescope, I'm usually making art in some form — lei making, rug making, and painting are current favorites — or out in the ocean looking for a new spot to eat.

Education

B.S. in Astrophysics; B.A. in Information & Computer Sciences
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i — Aug. 2020 to May 2025
Average unweighted GPA: 3.72 / 4.0

Awards & Honors

  • Dean's List, 2020 – 2024
  • Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship, 2020 – 2024
  • UHM Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Funding Recipient, 2022
  • Akamai Internship Participant, 2024

Relevant Coursework

Physics: Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Electromagnetic Waves, Quantum Mechanics, Computational Physics, Electronics for Physicists
Astronomy: Observational Astronomy, Spectroscopy, Galaxies & Cosmology
Computer Science: Software Engineering, Algorithms, Database Systems, Operating Systems, AI Programming
Mathematics: Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra

Skills

  • Proficient: Python, Java, C, JavaScript, HTML, CSS
  • Familiar: MATLAB, C++, Lisp, Prolog
  • Operating Systems: Mac OS, Linux, Windows
  • Software: LaTeX, ds9, Git, GitHub

Outreach

  • Bishop Museum After Hours Outreach Event — April 2022
  • Institute for Astronomy Open House — April 2022
  • Waimea Solar System Walk — October 2023
  • Presenter, PISCES STAR Program — July 2024
  • Interviewee, Space for Students Video Series, in collaboration with the Committee for the Status of Women in Astronomy and the AAS — recorded November 2024

Academic Mentoring

Academic Mentor / Tutor — University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, June 2023 to Present
Tutored student-athletes in Calculus I & II, Linear Algebra, General Physics, Introductory Chemistry, and Java, and mentored them on balancing coursework with a demanding sports schedule.