Atmospheric Retrievals · Machine learning

Viktória Kecskeméthy

Hiya! I'm Viki, an Astrophysics PhD student and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, Centre for Astrophysics Research. My research revolves around the atmospheres of L and T dwarfs and the acceleration of atmospheric retrievals using machine learning techniques, under the supervision of Dr Ben Burningham.

Previously, I completed an MSc in Astronomy Research at Leiden University in the Netherlands, and a BSc in Earth Sciences at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary — where I’m originally from.

I was also an Observatory Assistant (between October 2019 - August 2021) at the Konkoly Observatory, conducting regular observations at the Piszkéstető Mountain Station.

Explore my research ↓ Download CV ↗ v.kecskemethy@herts.ac.uk

Current Research

I study the atmospheres of cloudy brown dwarfs while actively developing the Brewster retrieval framework.

01 / Cloud physics

Brown dwarf atmospheric retrievals

I analyse low-resolution JWST NIRSpec and MIRI spectra of benchmark L-T dwarfs using the Brewster atmospheric retrieval framework to learn more about their composition, clouds, and thermal structure. These objects are companions to well-characterised stars, which allows their atmospheric properties to be compared with independent constraints on age and bulk composition.

Comparison of a neural emulator, the Brewster forward model and observed spectral data

02 / Machine learning

Accelerating Atmospheric Retrievals with Neural Emulators

My goal is to replace the computationally expensive forward model in Brewster with a much faster neural emulator that can handle high-dimensional (30-40 parameters) models. The emulator is currently ~ 400 times faster than Brewster's forward model.

Previous Research

Evolving transmission spectra and atmospheric composition for hydrogen-dominated exoplanets

Final Master’s thesis · Exoplanet atmospheres

Thermal evolution & transmission spectra

I investigated how thermal evolution and stellar irradiation affect the atmospheric chemistry and transmission spectra of hydrogen-dominated gaseous planets.

Model comparison for a planet-forming disk with and without a gap

First Master’s thesis · Protoplanetary disks

Substructure of disks with VLTI

I modelled the inner structure of planet-forming disks observed with VLTI-MATISSE, searching for gaps that may reveal nascent planets.

Light curve data from trans-Neptunian objects

BSc Thesis · Small Solar System Bodies

K2 light curves of trans-Neptunian objects

I studied the rotational properties, shapes and possible binarity of Hilda asteroids and trans-Neptunian objects using long, uninterrupted K2 light curves.

Publications

Full list of publication: NASA/ADS ↗
Updated 4 October 2026

7Peer-reviewed publications

3First-authored

105Citations

5h-index

5Conference proceedings

More About Me

I am a massive football fan and always support my home country's national team! The pictures below were taken before one of their UEFA Nations League matches. My favourite clubs are Liverpool FC and Ferencvárosi TC. I also enjoy playing the ukulele and the piano in my spare time.

Viktória at a football match in a packed stadium

Viktória holding a Hungary football scarf outside the stadium