Hi! I am David Paipa: Colombian astrophysicist, pasionate programmer and amateur artist. .
I am currently doing my Doctorate in heliophysics at the observatory of Paris. My current project at LESIA involves analyzyng data from the solar Orbiter probe (launched in February 2020) with the purpose of diagnosing accelerarted particles in solar flares. My recent research experience in phyisics has been oriented towards studying the properties of highly energetic (HE) astroparticles (detection, statistics and dat analysis techniques, HE astronomy). In addition, I have 4+ years of experience in the application of scientific computing, development of AI architectures and database management in academic and industrial contexts. I'm interested in scientific research through the implementation of bayesian models and deep learning techniques. Data visaulization, juggling and genetic algorithms implementation are current learning goals .
- Science & Data: numpy, pandas, collections, os, string, scipy, astropy, sunpy
- Plots: matplotplib, seaborn
- Machine Learning (ML): scikit-klearn, Tensorflow , Keras, OpenCV, Word2Vec
- Text scrapping and Language Processing: string, BeautifulSoup, spacy, nltk
- UI: pygame, tkinter, pyautogui
- Plots: matplotplib, seaborn
- Backend: node, Angular , Express
- Data Base: mogoDB
- Machine Learning: ml5, TensorflowJS
- Creative: processing, p5, matter
- Plots: D3
- Development: Postman, Jupyter, Microsoft/Libre Office
- Used languages: SQL, SAS, Addactis
- Machine Learning: Runway, Teachable Machine
- Technologies: Git, Makefile, R, Java, Jekyll, LaTex
- Astronomy: IRAF
February 2022 - July 2022
Performed multi-wavelength analysis of solar flare events using the Solar Orbiter mission, combining data from the STIX X-ray telescope and RPW radio and plasma wave instruments. Investigated particle acceleration, magnetic reconnection, and electron propagation through X-ray spectroscopy, imaging, and radio diagnostics. Supervisors: Dr. Nicole Vilmer and Dr. Milan Maksimovic.
Paris, France
April 2019 - August 2020
Designed and deployed machine learning and data science solutions for enterprise clients, leading projects in predictive analytics, biometrics, natural language processing, and financial forecasting with a focus on model interpretability and business impact.
Bogotá, Colombia / São Paulo, Brazil
August 2016 - November 2018
Assisted undergraduate teaching in electronics, object-oriented programming, mathematics, and physics through laboratory instruction, grading, tutoring, and student mentoring across multiple engineering and science courses.
Bogotá, Colombia
Oct 2022 - Dec 2025
Observatoire de Paris - LIRA - ED127
Energetic particles in solar flares: diagnostics with X-ray and radio observations from Solar Orbiter
Solar flares accelerate large populations of electrons that produce hard X-ray (HXR) emission in the solar atmosphere and type III radio bursts when escaping into interplanetary space. This thesis investigates the relationship between HXR flares and interplanetary type III bursts using simultaneous observations from the STIX and RPW instruments aboard Solar Orbiter. The results show that electron escape is commonly preceded by changes in HXR source morphology, indicating multiple magnetic reconnection episodes, and that stronger type III bursts are associated with higher non-thermal electron energies and harder HXR spectra. These findings support a common acceleration mechanism for both electron populations and demonstrate the diagnostic value of combined HXR and radio observations for studying particle acceleration and escape. This project is developed at LIRA under the supervision of Dr. Nicole Vilmer and Dr. Milan Maksimovic.
Thesis available in HAL theses
Thesis defense available in Youtube
2021 - 2022
Observatoire de Paris - PSL
Majored in observational astrophysics, focusing on modern astrophysical instrumentation, data analysis, and active research. Completed research projects at LERMA (ISM chemistry) and LESIA (Solar Orbiter solar flare analysis). Learn More
Relevant courses:
- Data Analysis Wavelet transform, plasma physics, X-ray spectroscopy, radio imaging, Asteroseismology, spectropolarimetry
- Instrumentation and Observation Interferometry, adaptive optics, coronography, optic/IR telescopes, photometry, Allan deviation
- HPC/HPDA Parallelization (OpenMP, MPI), neural networks, spectral decomposition
- Exoplanets Radial velocity, transit, direct imaging and microlensing detection techniques
2020 - 2021
Sorbonne Université (UPMC) - Université de Paris
Graduate studies in fundamental physics with an emphasis on astrophysics, culminating in a research internship at APC on machine learning methods for high-energy cosmic particle classification. Learn More
Relevant courses:
- Astrophysics and Cosmology Stellar evolution, thermal history of the universe, ISM, astronomy
- Particle Physics Feynman diagrams, quantum number conservation, relativistic collisions, Standard Model
- Quantum Mechanics Quantum theory, Lie algebra, operators, quantum entropy
- Statistical Physics Thermodynamics, statistical ensembles, ergodic systems, quantum gases, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics
- Atomic and Molecular Physics Electronic transitions, atomic and molecular orbitals, radiation in atoms
- Complex and Macroscopic Systems Fluids, viscosity, non-Newtonian fluids, intermolecular forces
2015 - 2019
Universidad de los Andes
Built a strong foundation in physics while conducting research in computational cosmology. Active member of the AstroAndes Computational Astrophysics Group and the GOA Optics Group. Learn More
Relevant courses:
- Open Clusters Astronomical observation techniques and image processing
- Modern Cosmology Theoretical and historical review of cosmology
- Quantum Mechanics & Particle Physics Quantum mechanics and introduction to quantum field theory
- Statistical Physics Thermodynamics and statistical ensembles
- Advanced Computational Methods Algorithms and data processing applications in science
2020
Coursera - DeepLearning.AI
Completed the Deep Learning Specialization covering modern neural network architectures, optimization techniques, computer vision, natural language processing, and sequence models. Certificate
- Neural Networks and Deep Learning
- Improving Deep Neural Networks: Hyperparameter Tuning, Regularization and Optimization
- Convolutional Neural Networks
- Sequence Models
- Structuring Machine Learning Projects
Doctoral school of Astronomy and Astrophysics of Ile-de-France - ED 127
I represented the interests of doctoral students at both the bureau and the council of the Ecole Doctorale. I also took part in the audition process for the PhD entrance competition, helping to ensure fair and balanced deliberations for all candidates
Jan 2023 - Dec 2025
Network of Colombian Students in Astronomy (RECA)
This program brings astronomy to different regions of Colombia, inviting Colombian astronomers to talk in schools. I presernted talks in multiple ocassions and have mentored undergraduate students with interests in astrophysics.
RECA seminario 2026 [Youtube]
2019 - currrent
Universidad de los Andes
After a year of volunteering I was selected to perform the Leadership role in the program I was working then. I was in charge of the integration activities and social events planning, volunteer managing and general leading of the program. ANDAR is a student organization whose objective is to help first semesters scholarship students with dropping-out risk to have a smooth and enjoyable integration into university life.
Aug 2016 - May 2017
Astronomy & Astrophysics - Vol 710, Jun 2026, A213
David Paipa-Leon, Hamish Reid, Nicole Vilmer, Milan maksimovic
[DOI]
June 2026
Astronomy & Astrophysics - Vol 694, Feb 2025, A111
David Paipa-Leon, Nicole Vilmer, Milan maksimovic, Vratislav Krupar, Antonio Vecchio
[DOI]
February 2025
Astronomy & Astrophysics - Vol 701, Sep 2025, A20
A. Warmuth, F. Schuller, R. Gómez-Herrero, I. Cernuda, F. Carcaboso, G. M. Mason, N. Dresing, D. Pacheco, L. Rodríguez-García, M. Jarry, M. Kretzschmar, K. Barczynski, D. Shukhobodskaia, L. Rodriguez, S. Tan, D. Paipa-Leon, N. Vilmer, A. P. Rouillard, C. Sasso, S. Giordano, G. Russano, C. Grimani, F. Landini, C. Mac Cormack, J. A. J. Mitchell, A. Fedeli, L. Vuorinen, D. Lario, H. A. S. Reid, F. Effenberger, S. Musset, K. Riebe, A. Galkin, K. Makan, S. Reusch, A. Vecchio, O. Dudnik, S. Krucker, M. Maksimovic, J. Rodríguez-Pacheco, M. Romoli, R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber
[DOI]
September 2025
Astronomy & Astrophysics - Vol 697, May 2025, A216
Minghui Zhang, Nicole Vilmer, Karl-Ludwig Klein, Abdallah Hamini, David Paipa-Leon, Yin Zhang, Yihua Yan
[DOI]
May 2025
- Ser Pilo Paga I (2015, Colombia) : Scholarship awarded to the 10,000 best high school students in the country to complete their undergraduate studies.
- Colfuturo (2020, Colombia) : Meritorious scholarship/loan awarded by the Colfuturo Foundation to outstanding university students to complete their postgraduate studies abroad.
- Sorbonne Scholarship (2020, France): financial aid granted to foreign students to complete their studies.
- Bourse Jean-Pierre Aguliar CFM (2022, France): funding granted to outstanding research projects in france.
- PSL funding for research exchange (2023, France): 5 week funding for research internship at UCL (Mullard Space Science Laboratory)
Standarized Test
The Saber Pro test is a standardized test carried out for final year bacherlor students to carry out an analysis of the performance of the new generation of undergraduate candidates in technical and university education institutions. I was classified in the 96th percentile, being among the best students nationwide in Colombia.
Conferences
- 1st Joint Symposium in Optics: Topics on non-linear phenomena (2019, Colombia) Organizer Universidad de los Andes
- CoCo2019 - Cosmology in Colombia(2019, Colombia) Speaker Universidad de los Andes
- MOCa - Dark Matter in Colombia 2018 (2018, Colombia) Assistant
- I Workshop on current challenges is cosmology 2018 (2018, Colombia) Assistant
- IONS Bogotá 2017 (2017, Colombia) Organizer International conference for OSA student chapters focused on outreach and research in optics. Held in the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the Universidad de los Andes.
Schools
- Culham Plasma Physics Summer School 2024 (2024, Oxford, UK) UK Atomic Energy Authority
- PLASMAScience Summer School (2024, Porquerolles, France) Institut Polytechnique de Paris
- IVth Uniandes Particle Detector School 2018 (2018, Colombia) Universidad de los Andes
- Uniandes Astronomy School 2018 (2018, Colombia) Universidad de los Andes
- Advanced Mathematics School (2014, Colombia) Konrad Lorenz University
2014 - 2024
Conferences
- Machine Learning y Data science en las grandes empresas (2020, Colombia) Talk on Coroporative uses of ML and DS (spanish) [Youtube Link]
- Tejidos y ecosistemas programables (2020, Colombia) Talk on the boundary between chaos and biology from the perspective os programming (spanish) Event by Red Suratómica [Youtube Link]
Hackathons
- 3rd Science Hack day Hackathon 2019 (2019, Colombia) Plataforma Bogotá / CKWeb
2014 - 2020
Supervisor
When I worked as a consultant, Jonathan was my supervisor in charge for a time, he promoted some of my projects in biometrics and process automation, in which my performance was recognized by the company and the client. He was a great mentor, boss and friend who helped me to progress in my professional skills during my working days in Brazil.
e-mail: jonathan.galeano@msbrazil.com
Thesis advisor
Jaime is the director of the computational astronomy group AstroAndes at the Universidad de los Andes and was my advisor on the thesis work at the bacherlor. thanks to him I was co-author of my first publication and I learned a lot about the world of scientific computing and applied machine learning in the natural sciences.
e-mail: je.forero@uniandes.edu.co
PhD thesis supervisor
Nicole was my M2 internship supervisor and my PhD thesis supervisor as well.
e-mail: nicole.vilmer@obspm.fr
Currently in
Ivry-sur-seine, Paris, France
david.paipa@obspm.fr