John Soo
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Dr. John Soo Yue Han |
2018-2024 - Contract Lecturer @ Universiti Sains Malaysia 2014-2018 - PhD Physics and Astronomy (Cosmology) @ University College London, UK PhD - Enhancing Photometric Redshifts for the Era of Precision Cosmology My research specialises in the area of cosmology and computational astrophysics. My previous and current research work include: I have been indirectly involved in the following research areas of my students: I am interested in the following topics as well: Interested to do a research masters or PhD under my supervision? Kindly drop me an 15 Nov 2021: I'm looking for a masters/PhD student who is interested to do a research on the teaching of relativity in Malaysian universities. If you're interested in this project, please do let me know! 2020-2023 - Short Term Research Grant by Universiti Sains Malaysia (RM 18 500) ZCE376/4 Astronomy Principles and Practices ZCE378/4 Radio Astronomy WMU112/2 Artificial Intelligence Literacy ZCT191/2 Physics Practical I/II ZCE275/4 Introduction to Astronomy Wilson Teoh Wei Sheng (PhD) Karthik Raja Selvan (PhD) Sanjivan Selvam (PhD) Lee Ming Wei (MSc) Nurdiana Nabila Jamal Rozi (MSc) Loo Kar Sin (MSc) In the School of Physics, the astrophysics research subgroup is partially parked under the Theoretical & Computational Physics Research Group, and the Geophysics, Astronomy and Atmospheric Science Research Group. The following is a poster created in 2022, showcasing the research work of some of our members. Please feel free to contact K. A. Bala, M. R. Omar, J. Y. H. Soo et al. (2024). CNUCTRAN: A Program for Computing Final Nuclide Concentrations Using A Direct Simulation Approach. Computer Physics Communications, 302, 109258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2024.109258. G. Manzoni, ..., J. Y. H. Soo et al. (2024). The PAU Survey: A New Constraint on Galaxy Formation Models Using the Observed Colour Redshift Relation. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 530(2), 1394. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae659. K. Balamuralikrishna, J. Y. H. Soo et al. (2023). Characterising Solar Magnetic Reconnection in Confined and Eruptive Flares. Astrophysics and Space Science, 368(11), 94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-023-04251-w J. Y. H. Soo, I. Y. K. Alshuaili, I. Mahmud Pathi (2023). Machine Learning Applications in Astrophysics: Photometric Redshift Estimation. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2576, 040001. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0140152 I. Y. K. Alshuaili, J. Y. H. Soo et al. (2022). Improving Photometric Redshifts by Merging Probability Density Functions from Template-Based and Machine Learning Algorithms. Astronomy Letters, 48(11), 657. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063773722110019 J. Y. H. Soo et al. (2021). The PAU Survey: narrowband photometric redshifts using Gaussian processes. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 503(2), 4118. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab711 J. Y. H. Soo & B. Joachimi (2021). Characterising improvements in photometric redshift probability density functions with galaxy morphology. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2319, 040002. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0037058 S. J. Schmidt, A. I. Malz, J. Y. H. Soo et al. (2020). Evaluation of probabilistic photometric redshift estimation approaches for The Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 499(2), 1587-1606. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa2799 J. Y. H. Soo et al. (2018). Morpho-z: improving photometric redshifts with galaxy morphology. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 475(3), 3613–3632. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx3201, data: ftp://ftp.star.ucl.ac.uk/johnsyh/cs82 [open using Windows Explorer] Link: https://srikandiangkasa.com/virtualgallery/ Srikandi Angkasa is an effort by the National Planetarium to promote the stories and research work of the astrophysicists in Malaysia. The link will bring you to a virtual tour around the National Planetarium, where you can browse through the e-galleries with videos and profiles of the astrophysicists. My video was taken in 2022, it was an interview where I introduced the main gist of my research work: artificial intelligence applications in astronomy. If you would just like to binge watch the videos, you can view through the playlist here. Sometimes I have a lot of cool ideas and projects in mind, but I couldn't do them all by myself. Thanks to some of my students' initiatives, or collaborations with others, together we have created some interesting and helpful codes / tutorials / presentations that could help educate the public in the fields of physics, astronomy and machine learning. Check out some of these projects below: Many say that science and religion are not able to co-exist together, but I beg to differ. As a Christian and a cosmologist, I enjoy talking to people about science and religion (focusing mostly on Christianity) and making people realise that there are so many things we don't know and will never be able to know about. If you have an audience interested to listen to topics like Science in the Scriptures or Big Bang vs Creation, please do contact me directly, and I will share with you the list of topics I offer. As of 2022, I have given 6 talks related to these topics in different church and student groups. The talks can be given in either English or Mandarin Chinese. Did you know: Penang is probably the most active state when it comes to amateur astronomy! As an astronomy lecturer, I enjoy bringing astronomy-related activities to the community, hoping that we can all learn to appreciate the impact of astronomy in our modern society. I wish that we can all appreciate the beauty and mystery of the universe we live in, together! I'm actually involved in many astronomy outreach programmes in Penang, here's how you can get us / join us: On a personal capacity, I give astronomy talks (topics on cosmology, Solar System, relativity, etc) and provide guidance on graduate school applications or career paths in astronomy. Please feel free to contact me personally if you have any further enquiries. The following are some astronomy talks / panel discussions that I have participated in the past: Link: http://furthermathematicst.blogspot.com/ Further Mathematics T was an STPM subject offered to students prior to 2014. At that time, Further Mathematics T wasn't officially taught in any government high school, therefore students who were interested in the subject had to study it by themselves, without the help of teachers and official textbooks. I took Further Mathematics T as my 5th subject in 2009, after that I worked on compiling all my resources as a series of notes to be shared online via a blog. I completed the blog in 2012, however the Further Mathematics T syllabus was revamped in 2013, and later discontinued in 2014. The blog is still there for anyone to read, I still find some of the info there helpful to my work, off and on. Here I provide some downloadable articles that I've written to help physics students in regards to data analysis, error analysis and report writing. Some of these summer programmes and conferences are specific to a certain year, but please feel free to browse through their website for the latest updates. Here are some international physics / astronomy-related competitions you can join. For undergraduate student competitions, please contact me if you would like me to be your project supervisor / faculty sponsor. Here are some companies whom I have gotten in touch before, please feel free to contact them or browse through their websites for any current job or internship opportunities.Education
Employment History
2024-present - Senior Lecturer @ Universiti Sains MalaysiaEducation History
2010-2014 - BSc (Hons) Physics (with specialisation in Astrophysics) @ National University of Singapore
2008-2009 - STPM @ Sekolah Tinggi Kluang, Johor
2003-2007 - PMR & SPM @ SMK Tun Hussein Onn, Kluang, Johor
1997-2002 - PTS & UPSR @ SJK(C) Chong Eng, Kluang, JohorTheses
BSc - f(T) Gravity Models and Cosmological TestsResearch
Research Area
Masters & PhD Opportunities
Research Grants
2023-2026 - Fundamental Research Grant Scheme by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (RM 97 000)Teaching
Semester I
This is the third of a series of four courses required to fulfil the minor in astronomy. In this course, we explore some big ideas in astronomy and astrophysics: principles, theories, equations and models of the processes and phenomena that govern the universe. Be prepared, as we may be using some deeper mathematics in order to better understand the following topics:
Semester II
This is the final of four courses in requirement to obtain the minor in astronomy. In this advanced course, you will learn everything about radio astronomy: its humble beginning, the principles and properties of radio waves, the equipment used to detect and analyse the radio signals, the celestial sources of radio signals and their impact on the advancement of astronomy. You will explore radio astronomy through the following topics:
As an extension to WMU102 Makers@USM, this course aims to introduce students to hyperautomation, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA). At the end of the course, students would have attained sufficient knowledge, developed skills and mastered tools that will prepare them for Industrial Revolution 4.0. This course also strengthens interpersonal skills through group projects related to the industry and community. Together with Mr Wilson Teoh (School of Physics) and Dr Ong Wen Eng (School of Mathematics), we will cover the following topics:
Semesters I & II
This is a compulsory course which has to be taken by all physics majors during their first year. This course, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lim Siew Choo, aims to help students strengthen their understanding on various fundamental physics concepts through practical laboratory experiments. Students will learn how to use lab apparatus in the lab safely to produce comprehensive lab reports for the experiment. The following experiments are covered in this course:
Courses Taught in the Past
ZCE277/4 Structure of the Universe
HTV201/2 Thinking TechniquesSupervision
Ongoing
Improving Photometric Redshift Estimation Using the Fundamental Plane
Improving Photometric Redshift Estimation for Faint Galaxies Using Morphological Parameters
Statistical Study of Hot X-Ray Onset Intervals in Solar Flares during Solar Cycles 22, 23 and 24
Imdad Mahmud Pathi (MSc)
Improving Photometric Redshift Estimations by Optimising Activation Functions in Artificial Neural Networks
Classification of Spiral Galaxies by Spiral Arm Number Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Functionality and Growth of Astronomical Observatories in Malaysia
Modelling the Faint Young Sun's Luminosity on Primordial Earth's Surface
(A collaborative project with Dr Kuhan Chandru, UKM)Graduated
Year
Type
Name
Project (Short Title)
2024
PhD
Ishaq Yahya Khalfan Al Shuaili
Synergy of Template and ML Photo-zs
BSc
Amir Fauzan Mohamed Mydin
Fabiance Chin Image Processing with JWST
BSc
Santtosh Muniyandy
Sazatul Nadhilah Zakaria Galaxy Classification with Discriminants
2023
BSc
Nezzayle Joannes Chin
Nurul Adlin Azati NorizanPhoto-z & Star-Galaxy Separation with SVM
BSc
Rupashri Sathasivam
ML Applications for the JCMT
2022
PhD
Balamuralikrishna Kanniah
Solar Flares vs Magnetic Reconnection Flux
BSc
Bryan Lee Zhun Jiin
Muhamad Ezkil UzairPhoto-z's with LDA and FDA
BSc
Ng Wei Yi
Sharon Malodol @ JamilonGravitational Wave Classification with DL
2021
BSc
Abdullah Saud Fatmi
Luther Amal JohnsonPhoto-z's with PDE-FOAM
BSc
Chow Wen Iou
Teo Zhi ShengStar-Galaxy Classification with RC and PLE
2020
BSc
Chai Wan Chie
Ku Nur Alia Ku Azhar Photo-z's with PDE-RS
BSc
Muhammad Amirul Zafrin Panizan
Photo-z's with KNN
2019
MSc
Md. Daim Norharizan
Lunar Occultation
USM Astrophysics Research Subgroup (2022)
Publication
Research Profiles
Selected Publications
Outreach
Srikandi Angkasa
Cool Student / External Projects
Science v.s. Religion
Physics and Astronomy Outreach
Further Mathematics T Blog
For Students
Lab Report and Data Analysis
Postgraduate Opportunities in Physics / Astronomy
Postgraduate Scholarships / Grants
Physics / Astronomy Summer Programmes
Physics / Astronomy Conferences
Dr. John's "How-To" Series
Physics / Astronomy Competitions
Undergraduate Students
Primary / Secondary / High School Students
Industrial Internship Opportunities