Meet the 2025 KISS Affiliates
Kevin Gauld
Grad student in the Division of Engineering and Applied Science
Hometown: Manhasset, NY
Date of this Interview: December 20, 2024
What do you research?
Broadly, detector systems. I've always been interested in visual/imaging systems, and my research has reflected that. From robotic perception and autonomy to X-Ray computed tomography reconstructions, I've worked in a wide range of detector applications. Currently, I'm working on the Lunar Trailblazer mission, co-registering collected SWIR and thermal images to pinpoint the location of images on the lunar surface.
Why does space inspire you?
The more we learn about space, the more we realize there's more to learn. Our discoveries so far have given us glimpses at worlds unlike anything we've ever dreamt of and I'm excited to see what new and interesting worlds we discover in the near future.
If you could instantly travel to any point in the universe, where would you choose to go?
I'd really like to see the tiger stripes and geysers on the surface of Enceladus, but maybe it would be a little too cold for comfort. :)
Where can you be found when you’re not conducting research?
If I'm out, I'm probably at a cafe or concert with friends. Otherwise, I enjoy painting and playing the violin, guitar, bass, viola, or mandolin. I'm also trying to more regularly create light-based electronic art pieces, but always a little tricky to find the time for anything too involved.
What book do you wish you could read for the first time again?
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid.
Kevin calibrating the manipulator arm for Caltech's rover team at the 2024 Canadian International Rover Challenge.