Course Schedule & Important Dates
ASTR 596: Modeling the Universe
Course Reading Schedule will be updated weekly, please check often!
Schedule Structure¶
Fall 2025 Semester: August 25 - December 18, 2025
Mondays: New project assigned via GitHub Classroom; previous project & growth memo due at 11:59 PM
Fridays: Class meeting (11:00 AM - 1:40 PM)
11:00-11:40: Interactive review, Q&A, clarify requirements
11:40-1:40: Hands-on pair programming (rotate partners every 20-25 min)
The projects follow a deliberate progression from deterministic simulation → stochastic methods → statistical inference → machine learning, mirroring how computational astrophysics evolved as a field. Each project builds on previous code and concepts, with scaffolding levels that decrease over time.
Master Project Timeline & Due Dates¶
Short Projects are due on Wednesdays by 11:59 pm, see due dates below.
| Project | Title | Duration | Assigned | Due | Core Concept | AI Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stellar Populations | 1.5 weeks | Aug 29 | Sept 10 | Object-oriented design & vectorization | Phase 1 |
| 2 | N-Body Dynamics | 2 weeks | Sept 10 | Sept 24 | ODE integration, stability, sampling methods (IMF, positions, velocities) | Phase 1 |
| 3 | Monte Carlo Radiative Transfer | 3 weeks | Sept 24 | Oct 15 | Stochastic methods & photon transport | Phase 1 |
| 4 | Bayesian Cosmological Inference | 3 weeks | Oct 15 | Nov 5 | Bayesian statistics & MCMC | Phase 2 |
| 5 | Gaussian Process Emulation | 3 weeks | Nov 5 | Nov 26 | Non-parametric models, emulation & JAX refactoring | Phase 2 |
| Final | Neural Networks with JAX | 4.5 weeks | Nov 19 | Dec 18 | Deep learning & autodiff | Phase 3 |
AI Scaffolding Phase Transitions¶
AI Scaffolding Phases
Phase | Period | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
Phase 1: Foundation Building | Projects 1, 2, and 3 | Struggle first, AI for debugging only after 30 minutes. Ends when you submit Project 3. |
Phase 2: Strategic Integration | Projects 4 and 5 | Strategic AI use after baseline implementation. Ends when you submit Project 5. |
Phase 3: Professional Practice | Final Project only | Professional AI integration as productivity multiplier. Begins only AFTER Project 5 submission. |
Phase Transition Self-Check¶
Entering Phase 2 (Oct 14): Can you debug most issues without AI assistance? Can you identify when your code violates physical principles?
Entering Phase 3 (Nov 25): Can you verify AI suggestions against documentation? Do you understand why code works, not just that it works?
Weekly Topics & Course Readings¶
| Week | Date | Topic | AI Phase | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 29 | Python Fundamentals & Object-Oriented Programming | Phase 1 | Primary: Python Ch. 5-6 (Functions, OOP); Reference: Ch. 1-4 (Python Fundamentals) |
| 2 | Sept 5 | NumPy, Vectorization, Linear Algebra Review | Phase 1 | Primary: Python Ch. 7-8 (NumPy, Matplotlib) |
| 3 | Sept 12 | Intro to Numerical Methods & ODE integration | Phase 1 | Linear Algebra Module 1; Numerical Methods Modules 1 and Module 3 |
| 4 | Sept 19 | Numerical Methods (cont.), Statistics, N-body dynamics & Conservation Laws, The Virial Theorem | Phase 1 | Statistical Thinking Module 1, Module 2 & Module 3 |
| 5 | Sept 26 | Radiative Transfer, Numerical Integration, & MC Methods | Phase 1 | TBD |
| 6 | Oct 3 | MCRT Implementation, Solving Linear Systems | Phase 1 | Linear Algebra Module 2; TBD |
| 7 | Oct 10 | Intro to Bayesian Inference & Cosmology | Phase 1 | TBD |
| 8 | Oct 17 | Bayesian Inference (cont.), Intro to MCMC | Phase 2 | TBD |
| 9 | Oct 24 | MCMC & HMC | Phase 2 | TBD |
| 10 | Oct 31 | Intro to ML & Advanced Optimization | Phase 2 | TBD |
| 11 | Nov 7 | Gaussian Processes | Phase 2 | TBD |
| 12 | Nov 14 | Gaussian Processes & Intro to JAX | Phase 2 | TBD |
| 13 | Nov 21 | Neural Networks & JAX | Phase 2 | TBD |
| 14 | Nov 28 | THANKSGIVING BREAK (Optional lab session earlier in week if students want) | Phase 3 | TBD |
| 15 | Dec 5 | Neural Networks & JAX | Phase 3 | TBD |
| Finals | Dec 18 | Final Presentations (Time TBD) | Phase 3 | — |
Important Dates (Fall 2025)¶
Project Deadlines (all 11:59 PM PT)
Assignment | Due Date |
|---|---|
Project 1: Stellar Populations + Growth Memo 1 | Wednesday, Sept 10 |
Project 2: N-Body Dynamics + Growth Memo 2 | Wednesday, Sept 24 |
Project 3: MCRT + Growth Memo 3 | Wednesday Oct 15 → Phase 1 ends |
Begin Phase 2 | Thursday, Oct 16 |
Project 4: Bayesian/MCMC + Growth Memo 4 | Wednesday, Nov 5 |
Project 5: GP + JAX N-body + Growth Memo 5 | Wednesday, Nov 26 → Phase 2 ends |
Begin Phase 3 | Thursday, Nov 27 (after Project 5 submission) |
Final Project: Neural Networks + Technical Growth Synthesis | Thursday, Dec 18 |
Pair Programming Schedule¶
Partners are randomly assigned each project to maximize diverse collaboration:
| Project | Strategy | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | Random pairs each project | Different perspectives accelerate learning |
| Final | Individual | Show your independent capability |
Collaboration Philosophy: Your assigned partner is your “home base” - primary development happens together. Other classmates are “consultants” - discuss ideas, debug together, share insights. Just ensure core implementation happens with your partner.