About me

Driven by an insatiable curiosity for the cosmos, I am a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Arizona mentored by Professor Ewan Douglas, dedicated to unveiling distant worlds through pioneering high-contrast direct imaging and demystifying the exozodiacal dust that surrounds them. My journey is built on an interdisciplinary foundation—holding a Master's in Physics from the University of New Mexico alongside double Bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics (minor in Mathematics) from National Taiwan University—empowering me to tackle complex astrophysical challenges with computational rigor and innovative problem-solving. I thrive at the frontier of discovery, passionately translating complex data into scientific insights to uncover the origins of life and the fundamental laws of nature.

What I'm interested in

  • Exoplanets icon

    Exoplanets

    Including formation, evolution, and detection via direct imaging

  • Exozodi icon

    Exozodi Study

    Studying the exozodi effect on direct imaging

  • Debris Disks icon

    Debris Disks

    Modeling the debris disks from SED data

  • Planet Formation icon

    Planet Formation

    Investigating planet formation around M dwarfs

  • Neutrino Physics icon

    Neutrino Physics

    Studying collision-induced instability phenomena in dense neutrino scenarios

  • Space telescope icon

    Space Telescope

    Designing and building space telescopes

Open Source

Resume

PUBLICATIONS

  1. JWST/NIRCam Imaging of Young Stellar Objects. IV. Detailed Imaging of the Protoplanetary Disk around TW Hya

    2026

    Lin, Y.-C.; Leisenring, J.; Wolff, S. G.; Hom, J.; Lawson, K.; Douglas, E. S.; Rieke, G.; Cugno, G.; Debes, J.; Dong, R.; Johnstone, D.; Mullin, C.; Tobin, T. L.; Wagner, K. R.; Greene, T.; Meyer, M. R.; and Rieke, M.

    The Astronomical Journal, 172(3), 179.

    doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ae90a6

  2. Correction Factors for Habitable Exoplanet Direct Imaging: Consider the Exozodiacal Dust inside Inner Working Angle

    2026

    Lin, Y.-C.; Douglas, E. S.; Hom, J.; Anche, R. M.; and Faramaz-Gorka, V.

    Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, submitted.

  3. Machine Learning Revolution for Exoplanet Direct Imaging Detection: Transformer Architectures

    2025

    Yu-Chia Lin

    Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets XII, Proc. SPIE, 13627, 136270Q.

    doi:10.1117/12.3064348

  4. Unveiling Habitable Planets: Toy Coronagraph Tackles the Exozodiacal Dust Challenge

    Sep 2024

    Yu-Chia Lin

    Proceedings of SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 13129, 131290X.

    doi:10.1117/12.3028456

  5. Searching for Signs of Earth-Like Planets: Demonstrating the Potential of the Roman Coronagraph in Resolving Exozodiacal Dust and Debris Disk Substructures

    2024

    Hom, J.; Douglas, E.; ... ; Lin, Y.-C.; et al.

    AAS/Division for Extreme Solar Systems Abstracts, 56(4), 623-02.

    doi:10.3847/25c2cfeb.e7ccaa3b

  6. RZ Piscium Hosts a Compact and Highly Perturbed Debris Disk

    2023

    Su, K. Y. L.; ... ; Lin, Y.-C.; et al.

    The Astrophysical Journal, 959(1), 43.

    doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ad04d9

  7. Approaches to Lowering the Cost of Large Space Telescopes

    2023

    Su, K. Y. L.; Kennedy, G. M.; Rieke, G. H.; Hughes, A. M.; Lin, Y.-C.; et al.

    Astronomical Optics: Design, Manufacture, and Test of Space and Ground Systems IV, 12677, 134–153.

    doi:10.1117/12.2677843

  8. Collision-induced flavor instability in dense neutrino gases with energy-dependent scattering

    Apr 2023

    Yu-Chia Lin and Huaiyu Duan

    Physical Review D, vol. 107, no. 8, 2023.

    doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.107.083034

  9. Formation of Multiple-planet Systems in Resonant Chains around M Dwarfs

    Feb 2021

    Lin, Y.-C., Matsumoto, Y., and Gu, P.-G.

    The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 907, no. 2, 2021.

    doi:10.3847/1538-4357/abd0f3

RESEARCH and TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  1. The University of Arizona

    Jun 2022 - Present

    Graduate Student Research Assistant (Supervisor: Ewan S. Douglas)

    Aug 2024 - Dec 2024

    Teaching Assistant, Radiative Processes in Astrophysics

  2. The University of New Mexico

    Jul 2021 - Jun 2022

    Graduate Student Research Assistant (Supervisor: Huaiyu (Mike) Duan)

    Jan 2022 - May 2022

    Electrodynamics TA

    Sep 2020 - Jun 2021

    Classical Mechanics and Thermal Physics TA

  3. Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica

    Mar 2019 - Jan 2021

    Undergraduate Student Research Assistant (Mentor: Pin-Gao Gu)

  4. National Taiwan University

    Sep 2019 - Jun 2020

    Classical Electrodynamics TA

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

  1. Taiwan Studying Abroad Government Fellowship for Outstanding Performance in IPhO

    2019 – 2023

    Fellowship supporting overseas study in recognition of IPhO performance.

  2. University of Arizona William S. Bickel Graduate Fellowship

    2023
  3. University of Arizona Graduate College Fellowship

    2022
  4. Taiwan Government Fellowship for Studying Abroad

    2019

    Fellowship in cosmology; sole recipient in this field admitted through this fellowship in the preceding ten years.

  5. National Taiwan University Student Outstanding Performance Award

    2019
  6. Dr. Yici He Memorial Scholarship

    2017

    Highest distinction to students wishing to study abroad based on their academic achievements.

  7. International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)

    2015

    Gold medal

  8. Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO)

    2015

    Gold medal

EDUCATION

  1. The University of Arizona

    Aug 2022 - Present

    Physics with Astrophysics Concentration (GPA: 4.0/4.0) — Ph.D. program

  2. The University of New Mexico

    Aug 2020 - Jun 2022

    Physics with Astrophysics Concentration — Master of Science

  3. National Taiwan University

    Sep 2015 - Jul 2020

    Double BS in Electrical Engineering & Physics (Minor in Mathematics)

    Major GPA: 4.11/4.3 (Physics), 4.07/4.3 (EE)

HICE

Past HICE