R

Astrostatistics · Machine Learning · Survey Science

Rafael S. de Souza

I develop statistical, machine-learning, and scientific software methods for extracting physical insight from noisy, incomplete, large-scale astronomical data.

Senior Lecturer, University of Hertfordshire Founder and Co-Chair, COIN Chair, ISI Astrostatistics Interest Group
Download CV Publications GitHub
130+ scholarly outputs
$1M+ competitive research funding as PI
80+ COIN researchers
2026 latest CV update
Research

Methods for discovery in the era of astronomical surveys.

My work moves between statistical inference, scalable software, and astrophysical applications: from galaxy evolution and IFU spectroscopy to Galactic structure, time-domain astronomy, cosmology, and nuclear astrophysics.

01

Astrostatistics

Likelihood-free inference, hierarchical Bayesian modelling, and uncertainty-aware scientific workflows.

02

Survey Machine Learning

Methods for imaging, spectra, alert streams, missing data, contamination, and large heterogeneous surveys.

03

Scientific Software

Open-source R and Python packages designed for reproducible, survey-scale astronomical analysis.

04

Galaxy and Galactic Structure

Applications to stellar populations, galaxy morphology, Milky Way structure, YSOs, and time-domain discovery.

Projects and Software

A place for the fancy stuff: logos, project identities, live demos, and visual research cards.

This section is designed to grow. Each card can become a project page, software landing page, paper story, data release, or COIN-style highlight.

S
Galaxy imaging

SAGUI

SED-based segmentation of multi-band galaxy images, applied to deep-field survey data.

COIN context
C
IFU analysis

Capivara

AI-powered spectral fingerprinting for uncovering hidden galaxy structures.

Media story
P
Fourier summaries

PowerSpectR

Radial power-spectrum estimation for morphology and spatial complexity.

Paper
N
Low-rank models

SpectralUnmix

Torch-based regularized non-negative matrix factorization for spectral data.

Paper
Publications

Easy to update, easy to publish.

The list below is rendered from content/publications.json. Add a new object there, push the repo, and the page updates without touching the design.

Loading

Loading publications...

CV

Current appointments and selected academic trajectory.

For the full record, download the PDF CV. The web version highlights the parts visitors need fastest: current roles, education, leadership, funding, supervision, and service.

2025-present

Visiting Scholar

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

2024-present

Adjunct Associate Professor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.

2023-present

Senior Lecturer

Centre for Astrophysics Research, University of Hertfordshire, UK.

2020-2022

Associate Professor

Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

2004-2009

Direct-Entry PhD in Astrophysics

University of Sao Paulo. Thesis: Origin of Cosmic Magnetic Fields.

Funding and Awards

Competitive support and recognition.

  • 2025-2029: Hyperspectral Image Segmentation at Scale, CNPq, PI.
  • 2021-2023: CAS Talents Programme, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PI.
  • 2018: PROSE Award, Best Book in Cosmology and Astronomy.
  • 2017: Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship, AstroFit Programme.

Teaching and Service

Training researchers and building communities.

  • PhD, MSc, and undergraduate supervision across spectral analysis, star formation, and cosmic web science.
  • Courses in statistical methods, data analysis, machine learning, neural networks, and research methods.
  • Projects and service with COIN, MAUVE, Fink, LSST, J-PAS, A&A, MNRAS, Nature, ApJ, PASP, and A&C.

Visual Lab

Reserved space for logos, collaborations, data products, and future interactive visuals.

COIN logo COIN SAGUI Capivara Fink LSST J-PAS

Contact

Collaborations, seminars, supervision, and software.

Email rd23aag@herts.ac.uk or connect through the academic links below.

CV PDF ORCID GitHub LinkedIn