Joshua Ott Gundersen

Joshua Gundersen is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Miami's College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on observational cosmology, particularly using intensity mapping techniques to study the distribution of molecular gas in the early universe. He is a key member of the CO Mapping Array Project (COMAP), which aims to map carbon monoxide emissions to trace galaxy evolution and probe the Epoch of Reionization (EoR). His work includes developing data analysis methods for large-scale structure observations and advancing instrumentation for submillimeter and radio astronomy.

Key projects include the COMAP Pathfinder instrument and its successor phases (COMAP-EoR and COMAP-ERA), which enable high-precision measurements of CO(1-0) and CO(2-1) power spectra. Gundersen's research also involves cross-correlating CO intensity maps with galaxy surveys such as eBOSS and HETDEX to enhance detection sensitivity. His contributions span instrument design, signal processing, and theoretical modeling of molecular gas distributions in cosmic history.

His publications highlight advancements in data calibration, systematic error mitigation, and forecasts for future experiments. Ongoing efforts aim to characterize the cosmic molecular gas content up to redshift z~8, providing insights into star formation rates and galaxy evolution during reionization. Collaborations include the Argus+ spectroscopic instrument at the Green Bank Telescope and the ASTHROS stratospheric observatory.