Dr. Regina Sarmiento

Dr. Regina Sarmiento is a Spanish astrophysicist and data scientist emerging as a key figure in contemporary UAP research through her work at Harvard's Galileo Project. Her academic foundation in galaxy evolution and machine learning positioned her uniquely to tackle the data analysis challenges of systematic UAP investigation during the disclosure era of the 2020s.

Background and Education

Sarmiento earned her PhD in Astrophysics from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in Tenerife, Spain. Her doctoral research, combining integral field spectroscopic (IFS) data with cosmological simulations and deep learning, examined galaxy evolution. This work established her expertise in applying artificial intelligence to complex astrophysical datasets—expertise that would prove essential for contemporary UAP science.

The Galileo Project and UAP Data Analysis

In 2024-2025, Sarmiento joined the Galileo Project at Harvard's Center for Astrophysics under Avi Loeb's leadership. The project represents one of the first systematic, academic attempts to investigate UAP scientifically through a global network of ground-based observatories. Sarmiento developed AI-assisted data analysis methodologies to process observations from multiple locations, focusing on triangulation analysis—using simultaneous observations to calculate precise distances, velocities, and acceleration profiles. This approach allows researchers to distinguish conventional explanations (aircraft, satellites) from genuinely anomalous phenomena through kinematic signatures.

Disclosure Era Recognition

In June 2026, Sarmiento was appointed to the White House UAP Science Advisory Council, chaired by Avi Loeb, following the Trump administration's initiation of the PURSUE disclosure process. The council was tasked with analyzing thousands of government-held UAP reports and developing scientific frameworks for resolution. Her participation underscores the critical role of AI-driven data analysis in extracting meaningful patterns from large UAP databases.

Scientific Approach

Sarmiento represents a new generation of UAP researchers prioritizing empirical methodology over speculation. Her approach—combining instrumental observation, automated data processing, statistical validation, and peer review—provides a bridge between mainstream academia and UAP investigation. Her work demonstrates that rigorous investigation of anomalous aerial phenomena need not compromise scientific credibility, establishing a blueprint for how the scientific community can engage with UAP research legitimately.