CV

SKILLS

Programming & Scripting: Python, SQL, C++, Scala, Bash
Machine Learning & AI: Scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face Transformers, CNNs, LLMs, Transfer Learning, Fine-tuning, Prompt Engineering
Data Science & Analysis: Pandas, NumPy, Spark, SciPy, Astropy, Bayesian inference, Time series analysis, Statistical modeling, Dimensionality reduction
Visualization & Development Tools: Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly, Jupyter Notebook, Git, LaTeX, Linux
Astronomy Software & Pipelines: CASA, CIAO, ESOREFLEX, DS9, TOPCAT, MONTAGE, ppxf
Core Competencies: End-to-end data pipelines, model training and evaluation, proposal writing, interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific communication

WORK EXPERIENCE

Work Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher | University of Alabama in Huntsville, USA

September 2023 – Present

Analyzed HST ultraviolet imaging of M87 to quantify star formation rates and histories using custom Python pipelines for source extraction, image processing, and statistical modeling, identifying the weakest known starburst in a massive galaxy.
Contributed to successful proposals for ALMA and XRISM, and collaborated on multiwavelength observational campaigns involving HST, MUSE, and other instruments to study AGN feedback and star formation.
Led and supported cross-institutional research projects, mentored junior researchers, presented at international conferences, and reviewed telescope proposals and scientific manuscripts.

Data Scientist | ZebraKet, Canada

June 2023 – August 2023

Developed data cleaning and preprocessing pipelines using Python and Pandas to ensure high-quality industrial facility data.
Built fault detection models using machine learning and deep learning (scikit-learn, PyTorch), improving anomaly detection accuracy.
Performed feature engineering and statistical analysis to identify key variables influencing system performance.

Postdoctoral Researcher | University of Waterloo, Canada

February 2023 – August 2023

Simulated mock galaxy observations and analyzed data for the upcoming XRISM X-ray space telescope mission using Python.
Mentored two graduate students and co-authored a research paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.
Collaborated on competitive telescope time proposals with international research teams.

Research Assistant (PhD) | University of Waterloo, Canada

May 2017 – December 2022

Analyzed multi-wavelength datasets (radio, optical, X-ray) of galaxies, creating science-ready images and spectra from several terabytes of raw data.
Applied Bayesian inference and linear regression to study galaxy properties, contributing to multiple peer-reviewed publications.
Adapted research strategies to data availability constraints, demonstrating flexibility in long-term project planning.
Collaborated with international teams; led and co-led projects resulting in four academic papers and multiple conference presentations.

Teaching Assistant | University of Waterloo, Canada

May 2017 – December 2022

Delivered tutorials for undergraduate physics courses and provided one-on-one academic support to students.
Taught five laboratory courses and evaluated student performance across written assignments and exams in both in-person and virtual settings.

Visiting Research Student | National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, India

May 2014 – May 2015

Analyzed data from a newly identified galaxy; modeled its spectrum to derive key physical properties.
Authored a peer-reviewed publication based on this work, which received media coverage.
Processed and statistically analyzed large galaxy datasets to identify trends in galaxy morphology and emission.

EDUCATION

PhD in Astronomy – University of Waterloo, Canada

2017 – 2022

BS & MS in Physics – Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, India

2010 – 2015

AWARDS

IAU travel grant to attend UniversAI conference, 2025
Marie Curie Graduate Student Award, 2017
INSPIRE Scholarship by Govt. of India to pursue science, 2010 – 2015

TELESCOPE PROPOSALS

ALMA Cycle 11 — “The origin and dynamics of molecular gas in central galxies of cool-core groups,” awarded, 2024 (PI)
XRISM Cycle 1 — “Studying hot gas kinematics in A1689 with XRISM,” awarded, 2024 (co-I)

CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS

UniversAI: Exploring the Universe with Artificial Intelligence, 2025 (Athens, Greece)
McNamara@65: Understanding Feedback in Galaxies and Clusters, 2024 (Waterloo, Canada)
Star formation in the era of JWST, 2023 (Paralia, Greece)
Compute Ontario Summer School: ML, Git and Deep Learning, 2022 (online)
Galaxy clusters 2022: Challenges and Cosmological perspectives, 2022 (STScI, USA)
16th Synthesis Imaging Workshop, 2018 (Socorro, NM, USA)
SKA Pathfinders Radio Continuum Surveys, 2016 (Goa, India)
33rd Meeting of Astronomical Society of India, 2015 (NCRA, India)
Winter school on Astroparticle physics, 2013 (Darjeeling, India)

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteered for Marathi language Wikipedia by writing 100+ articles and creating infoboxes, 2015 – 2017
Participated in Science outreach events for school children by presenting posters and conducting experiments.

Publications

J021659-044920: a relic giant radio galaxy at z ∼ 1.3

Tamhane, P.D. et. al, (2015). "J021659-044920: a relic giant radio galaxy at z ∼ 1.3." MNRAS. 453.

Origins of Molecular Clouds in Early-type Galaxies

Babyk, Iu. V., McNamara, B. R., Tamhane, P. D. et. al. (2019). "Origins of Molecular Clouds in Early-type Galaxies." ApJ. 887.

Thermally Unstable Cooling Stimulated by Uplift: The Spoiler Clusters

C. G. Martz, B. R. McNamara, P. E. J. Nulsen, A. N. Vantyghem, M-J. Gingras, Iu. V. Babyk, H. R. Russell, A. C. Edge, M. McDonald, P. D. Tamhane et. al, (2020). "Thermally Unstable Cooling Stimulated by Uplift: The Spoiler Clusters." ApJ. 897.

Molecular Flows in Contemporary Active Galaxies and the Efficacy of Radio-Mechanical Feedback

Prathamesh D. Tamhane, Brian R. McNamara, Helen R. Russell, Alastaire C. Edge, Andrew C. Fabian, Paul E. J. Nulsen, Iurii V. Babyk et. al, (2022). "Molecular Flows in Contemporary Active Galaxies and the Efficacy of Radio-Mechanical Feedback." MNRAS, Volume 516, Issue 1.

Radio jet-ISM interaction and positive radio-mechanical feedback in Abell 1795

Prathamesh D. Tamhane, Brian R. McNamara, Helen R. Russell, Francoise Combes, Yu, Qiu, Alastair C. Edge, Roberto Maiolino, Andrew Fabian, Paul E. J. Nulsen, R. Johnstone, Stefano Carniani, (2022). "Radio jet-ISM interaction and positive radio-mechanical feedback in Abell 1795." MNRAS, Volume 519, Issue 3.

A massive multiphase plume of gas in Abell 2390’s brightest cluster galaxy

Rose, Tom; McNamara, B. R.; Combes, F.; Edge, A. C.; Russell, H.; Salomé, P.; Tamhane, P. ; Fabian, A. C.; Tremblay, G., (2024). "A massive multiphase plume of gas in Abell 2390s brightest cluster galaxy." MNRAS.

Can Active Galactic Nuclei Activity Be Enhanced by Ram Pressure Stripping?—X-Ray Perspective

Tiwari, Juhi; Sun, Ming; Luo, Rongxin; Fossati, Matteo; Chen Chien-Ting, Chen J.; Tamhane, Prathamesh, (2025). "Can Active Galactic Nuclei Activity Be Enhanced by Ram Pressure Stripping?—X-Ray Perspective." ApJ.

XRISM Reveals Low Nonthermal Pressure in the Core of the Hot, Relaxed Galaxy Cluster A2029

Xrism collaboration et al, (2025). "XRISM Reveals Low Nonthermal Pressure in the Core of the Hot, Relaxed Galaxy Cluster A2029." ApJL.

Velocity Structure Correlations between the Nebular, Molecular, and Atmospheric Gases in the Cores of Four Cool Core Clusters

Li, Muzi ; McNamara, B. R.; Coil, Alison L.; Marie-Joëlle Gingras ; Brighenti, Fabrizio; Russell, H. R.; Tamhane, Prathamesh D.; Oh, S. Peng ; Perrotta, (2025). "Velocity Structure Correlations between the Nebular, Molecular, and Atmospheric Gases in the Cores of Four Cool Core Clusters." ApJ.

Prathamesh Tamhane

CV