ABOUT

Dr. Daniel O’Conner Peluso (Dan) is an astronomer, educator, researcher, media creator, and singer-songwriter (performing under the pseudonym Conner Eko). Based in Vallejo, California, Dan blends his passions for astrophysics, education, and music, continually seeking ways to bridge science, art, and community.

Astrophysicist, Researcher, and Educator

In January 2025, Dan returned to Griffin Technology Academies in Vallejo, where he is set to begin a hybrid role as a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Educator, Researcher, and Program Developer. He teaches courses in astrophysics, mathematics, and pop music songwriting, while developing interdisciplinary STEAM programs designed to engage students through both scientific inquiry and creative expression. He is particularly excited about integrating music and songwriting into the science curriculum, believing that artistic expression can inspire students (and the public) to explore complex scientific concepts in new ways.

Dan earned his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), where his thesis, Democratizing & Enhancing Exoplanet Research with the Unistellar Citizen Science Network & Astronomy Modeling Instruction, highlighted the significant impact citizen science can have on exoplanet research and education. This work, conducted with UniSQ, the SETI Institute, and the American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA), led to several first-author peer-reviewed publications and included contributions from over 200 citizen astronomers from the Unistellar Network, including high school students who were included as co-authors in his paper for the discovery and confirmation of exoplanet TIC 139270665 b (see Research & Publications). His research also led to the creation of the Astronomy Modeling with Exoplanets (AME) course, developed in collaboration with AMTA. 

Before returning to teaching, Dan served as Director of Strategic Engagement at the LSST Discovery Alliance, where he worked on expanding collaborations for the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space & Time (LSST). His work focused on improving science communication, fostering partnerships, and making scientific data more accessible to diverse communities. This also resulted in him co-hosting several AMTA and Rubin LSST collaborative workshops for AMTA teachers in 2024 and 2025.

As an educator, Dan has led workshops and courses from the middle school, high school, undergradate, and graduate level. He implemented his self-designed astrophysics course from his Ph.D. work, Astronomy Modeling with Exoplanets, at Griffin High School (Vallejo, CA) and personally succesfully arranged for it to be articulated with Napa Valley College (Napa, CA) for dual college credit. Additionally, he taught an introductory astronomy course at Napa Valley College (ASTR 110) and was instrumental in the development of the Unistellar College Astronomy Network (UCAN) and Unistellar Education as the Unistellar Education Associate and Assistant Director of UCAN at the SETI Institute. He remains committed to furthering this research and education work by expanding astronomy education opportunities, including continuing to teach the dual-enrollment course he developed. He also continues his involvement in global science initiatives, including work with the SETI Institute’s Unistellar Network.

He also has over 15 years of exciting achievements in digital media creation by creating short science documentaries, science education videos, and music videos. His award-winning The Quest for Another Earth (2014) documentary on exoplanets, won the 2016 American Geophysical Union Science Film Award and the 2017 Goldschmidt Wild Orbit Film’s People’s Choice for Best Science Communication. His science education videos are published on the SETI Institute’s YouTube page and website (2020-2022), and he has successfully created music videos for his various musical projects (2008-2025).

His education includes an A.A.S. in Music Business with a focus on Songwriting from McNally Smith College of Music (2005), a B.A. in Media & Professional Communications with Certificate in Digital Media (Film Studies), and a B.S. in Natural Sciences (Planetary Science) from the University of Pittsburgh (2016), an M.Ed. in Science Curriculum & Instruction from the University of San Diego (2017), a California Single-Subject Teaching Credential in Physics and Geosciences (2017), and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Queensland (2024). 

Musician, Singer-Songwriter, and Cultural Advocate

Before his academic journey, he spent years working in the music industry at Warner Music, Victory Records, Universal Music, Lost Highway, and Island Def Jam Records, developing and promoting artists like Fall Out Boy, Wolfmother, Bayside, Hawthorne Heights, The Bravery, Bon Jovi, and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. While he enjoyed his work in the industry, his ultimate passion and aspirations have been as a musician and singer-songwriter. His music career began in the late 90s and early 2000s when he played in garage bands and sang backup vocals while performing percussion with the Western Pennsylvania touring blues band Black Cat Otis, all before he graduated high school. After being accepted into Berklee College of Music for Songwriting, he ultimately pursued a degree in Music Business (focused on songwriting), which gave him valuable experience in both music creation and promotion.

Over the years, he’s released music as a solo artist and with his previous indie pop rock band Falling Andes, achieved national press, AAA terrestrial radio play, and had his self-produced music video for “Rabbit Hole” air on FUSE TV. Most recently, under his current project Conner Eko, he has received Spotify playlisting, SiriusXM airplay, and critical recognition. As Eko, his indie pop singer-songwriter project, his music blends introspective lyrics with catchy pop melodies, with influences ranging from classic rock to 80s synth pop to contemporary indie pop. In 2021, Eko released his debut single, SINK, which gained recognition after being remixed by Grammy-winning DJ StoneBridge in 2022 and receiving airplay on SiriusXM's BPM. After a hiatus to pursue his Ph.D. and focus on education, he returned to music with his live in-studio single "Standing Up" in January 2025, which advocates for mental health awareness. Filmed by local filmmaker Aaron Japzon, the track features a full band arrangement and is available across all major streaming platforms and video services.

In early 2025, Peluso was named a semi-finalist for the 2025-2026 Fulbright US Scholar Program for his project proposal “Cosmic Harmonies”. The project aims to blend modern pop music with traditional Aboriginal sounds, co-writing songs with Indigenous communities in Australia to share Indigenous star knowledge and cultural heritage. Dan is set to share his ideas on expanding cultural and Indigenous astronomy awareness and participation in a series of academic talks where he will also perform and debut his newest Conner Eko song "Our Skies" at the following events:  

In May 2025, as Conner Eko, Dan released the single “A Farewell to Arms”, inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s novel, featuring international collaborations with musicians from Japan, Brazil, and Portugal. He plans to release “Our Skies” during or after his Australian trip in July 2025 and hopes to have Aboriginal musician collaborators perform on the track.

Currently, Dan is excited to be focusing on building citizen science and music initiatives to promote Aboriginal and Indigenous astronomy and involvement in collaboration with the University of Melbourne’s Cultural Indigenous Astronomy Centre and Skymapper. In 2026, he plans to complete his first debut album as Conner Eko, which will blend pop music with diverse cultural influences and explore deep cosmic themes through music, data sonification, and storytelling. He also plans to continue exciting astronomy research, outreach, and education initiatives.

For more information on Dan’s work as Conner Eko, please visit connereko.com.

Dan performing as Conner Eko in his 2022 song, “I Didn’t See You At All”.