Meridith Joyce, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Wyoming School of Computing / Department of Physics & AstronomyThe Joyce Lab at the University of Wyoming
The Joyce Lab specializes in the application of high-performance computing, statistics, and data science techniques to problems in stellar astrophysics, especially stellar structure and evolution, stellar variability, and Galactic archaeology.
Current Members
Dr Niall Miller - Postdoctoral Associate
Dr Miller's current research explores stellar age relationships in the Galactic Bulge. His work combines galactic chemical evolution simulations with novel data science approaches to advance our understanding of stellar populations and Galactic evolution. Additionally, he is contributing to the refinement of the MESA colo(u)rs module, aiming to enable the generation of realistic, on-the-fly light curves for any filter and stellar atmosphere model. Prior to joining the University of Wyoming, Dr Miller completed his PhD at the University of Hertfordshire. His doctoral work focused on leveraging machine learning to analyse large-scale infrared surveys, culminating in the creation of PRIMVS—a comprehensive catalog of infrared periodic variable stars identified in the VVV survey. He developed neural network-based methods to improve the reliability and completeness of variable star identification. This work also employed contrastive learning techniques to characterise and classify periodic variable stars without relying on prior assumptions. Dr. Miller’s broader research interests include stellar variability, Galactic structure, and the application of machine learning to time-domain astronomy.
