Tobias Géron has been selected as the inaugural Catalyst Postdoc Alliance Lead, a one-year funded leadership role designed to help LSST Discovery Alliance establish and guide the first Catalyst Postdoc Alliance cohort.
The Catalyst Postdoc Alliance expands the reach of the Catalyst Fellowship by bringing together an international cohort of approximately postdocs conducting Rubin-related research. Launched as a pilot program, the Alliance supports both innovative science and community-focused initiatives. As Alliance Lead, Tobias devotes dedicated time to cultivating this distributed cohort—strengthening peer connections, fostering collaboration across institutions, and building sustained engagement through virtual channels.
The Lead role calls for community building among Alliance members; facilitating engagement via platforms such as Slack and Zoom; strengthening connections between the Postdoc Alliance and LSST Science Collaborations; reporting on pilot outcomes and recommending program improvements; and elevating timely opportunities and issues to Catalyst leadership. Tobias also continues his Rubin LSST-related research as part of this appointment.
Originally from Belgium, Tobias completed graduate study in the UK and is currently a Rubin Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto. His research spans galaxy evolution and time-domain astronomy, with particular interests in machine learning, software development, and citizen science. He brings a strong record of LSST community engagement and a commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive scientific environment.
During the 2025 Catalyst Symposium, Alliance postdocs—many of whom Tobias helped coordinate—delivered highly rated lightning talks and contributed to breakout sessions focused on the Rubin Science Platform and professional development. The Alliance has since launched a Leadership Mini-Grant program to support postdoc-led research and community engagement initiatives, further extending the impact of the Catalyst network. Tobias is also working to set up new mentor relationships for many Alliance postdocs with members of the Rubin community and organizing regular community-building and skill-building seminars to support postdocs.
“We are thrilled to partner with Tobias to expand LSST-DA’s support for the Rubin science community. Postdocs play a pivotal role in transforming survey data into scientific discovery, yet it remains one of the most challenging and transitional career stages. By serving as Alliance Lead, Tobias will help us identify unmet needs within the community and strategically focus our efforts where they can have the greatest impact. Through strengthening connections among Rubin postdocs, he will play a key role in advancing LSST-DA’s mission to multiply the scientific output of the survey.” said Andrew Sturner, LSST Discovery Alliance Program Manager.
“I am incredibly excited to take on this role. I believe that fostering a supportive and welcoming community is essential for enabling transformative science in the long term. As the Catalyst Postdoc Alliance Lead, I am grateful to help build a thriving international network of researchers. I am committed to fostering a collaborative community that empowers postdocs to learn, grow, and shape the future of Rubin science.” Tobias Geron, Catalyst Postdoctoral Alliance Lead, Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Toronto
Tobias will play a central role in building a thriving international community of postdoctoral leaders advancing Rubin science.