Justin Kader

Astrophysics of Galaxies | ML Engineering | Unreal Engine Development

I'm Justin Kader: an astrophysicist, data scientist, and game developer working at the intersection of discovery and innovation. My career has bridged the extremes of discovery and engineering—from decoding ancient star clusters with machine learning to building immersive virtual worlds in Unreal Engine 5. What defines me is my ability to rapidly master new domains and do whatever it takes to solve complex problems, whether that means developing statistical analysis tools for high-volume spectral datasets or integrating multiplayer networking code from scratch. I thrive where others see impossible challenges—transforming uncertainty into elegant solutions through a blend of analytical rigor, technical execution, and relentless curiosity.

As an observational astrophysicist, I study the processes shaping galaxy evolution, particularly the impact of massive stars and active galactic nuclei (AGN) on their host galaxies through energy and momentum injection into the interstellar medium (ISM). My work combines multi-wavelength archival data and new observations, using statistical tools to analyze how these power sources heat, recycle, and redistribute star-forming gas and dust, addressing gaps in galactic chemical evolution models.

Currently a postdoctoral scholar at UC Irvine with Dr. Vivian U, I investigate AGN outflows in luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) using JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument and Keck's KCWI to map ionized gas kinematics, characterizing mass-loss rates, metal redistribution, and dust coupling in and around galaxies. I integrate JWST's high-resolution spectral data with KCWI's wide-field capabilities to study multiphase outflows' role in galaxy and circumgalactic medium evolution.

I earned my PhD in astrophysics from Indiana University, studying the enigmatic globular clusters hidden buried within the dust-enshrouded heart of the Milky Way with Prof. Catherine Pilachowski, after completing a BS in physics at UC Santa Cruz and an MS in physics at San Francisco State University.

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