Candidate Statement: Joshua Pepper

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Nominated Office: Nominating Committee

Affiliation: Lehigh University

Position/title: Assistant Professor

PhD institution: The Ohio State University (2007)

Areas of scientific interest:

  • Exoplanets
  • Variable stars
  • Wide-field surveys
  • Time domain astronomy

AAS positions & dates:

  • AAS Agent (2013-present)

Other relevant positions and experience:

  • American Association of Variable Star Observers (2014-present)
  • Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Science Team (2012-present)
  • Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, Transiting Exoplanet subgroup of T/VS Working Group, chair (2012-present)
  • Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope Survey, director and co-PI (2004-present)
  • Hotwiring the Transient Universe Conference, Scientific Organizing Committee (2016)
  • Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, Variable Stars subgroup of MW/SP/LV Working Group, co-chair (2012-2014)
  • Planet Formation Imager, Planetary Architectures Working Group, chair (2014-2015)
  • Kepler External Users' Panel (2010-2012)
  • Kepler Eclipsing Binary Working Group (2010-2015)
  • Sagan Summer Workshop, Scientific Organizing Committee (2012)

Candidate Statement: The AAS has a diverse membership across many dimensions. We study phenomena over enormous ranges of sizes, energies, and timescales. We work at colleges and universities, observatories and laboratories, institutes and on our own. As individuals we have various backgrounds, experiences, heritage, and languages. Amidst our various origins and circumstances, we are working to support each other and the broader scientific community to produce knowledge and make sense of the universe. That enterprise is most successful when we are able to communicate readily with each other and articulate our needs and goals. Our officers should have the ability and drive to represent all members, from big institutions to small, and to be a voice for those who are not often heard. I will work to ensure that a diverse set of perspectives are represented within the leadership of the society, especially as we transition into a new governance structure. I would be hon ored to serve the community as a member of the nominating committee.