Research
"It often seems to me that the night is much more alive and richly colored than the day."
-Vincent van Gogh
Photo by Patrick Wine
Photo by Claire Giordano
Research
As a proto-early-career astronomer, my research interests have evolved over the last nine years. I first conducted research my freshman year of high school, where I studied the composition of Jupiter through learning about photometric and spectroscopic instrumentation methods. Since then, my path has led me to study near-Earth asteroid orbital determination, spectrographic analysis of trace gas aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere, exoplanet detection using transit photometry and radial velocity methods, and modeling exoplanet atmospheres to better understand potential biosignatures.
My research interests at-large include exoplanet detection, characterization of planetary geologies and atmospheres, and comparative planetology between the Solar System and exoplanetary systems. I also enjoy utilizing space policy in the development of flagship space-based missions and in the search for life. My interests lie at the intersection of Astronomy and Earth & Climate Sciences, which are supported through knowledge gained through my degree at the University of Maine.
My drive to learn astronomy without enrollment in a collegiate program in the field has led me to work with inspiring people on meaningful projects at NASA and beyond. I’ve been fortunate to hold internship positions with the Pandora Project at NASA Goddard as well as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Program Office and Great Observatories Mission and Technology Maturation Program (GOMaP) at NASA Headquarters. I also completed my undergraduate capstone project through research and field work with the Sea-to-Sky program in UMaine’s School of Earth and Climate Sciences in 2023.
In 2017, I was a participant in the Summer Science Program in Astrophysics at the University of Colorado-Boulder, selected because of my love for astronomy.
An overview of my research experience can be found below.
Select Research Projects
(listed chronologically with most recent first)Creating a Spectral Library for Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Studies
June - December 2023 at NASA Headquarters
What do exoplanetary atmospheric spectra tell us about planet type? How can terrestrial exoplanets be characterized more effectively? This research was motivated by these questions, and others, related to precursor science studies of terrestrial exoplanets in preparation for the Habitable Worlds Observatory mission. I utilized a one-dimensional photochemical-climate model called "atmos" to simulate exoplanet atmospheres for different planet types ranging from Venusian planets to Neptunes and Earth at different points in its history.
This project informed my current research as a Postbaccalaureate Research Assistant at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where I am simulating false positive oxygen environments with "atmos" with a focus on Mars-like exoplanetary atmospheres.
For this project, I worked under the mentorship of Dr. Shawn Domagal-Goldman and Ms. Julie Crooke in the Great Observatories Maturation Program (GOMAP), which is in the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters.
I presented this work within NASA in December 2023, as an iPoster at AAS 243 in January 2024, and as a poster at the Astrobiology Science Conference in May 2024. For this work, I was named an Honorable Mention recipient of the Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award by the American Astronomical Society in February 2024.
Cosmogenic Isotopes
May 2023 at UMaine School of Earth and Climate Science
What does glacial movement look like? How do cosmogenic isotopes -- coupled with dendrochronology -- provide a model for understanding glacial retreat and advancement? To answer these questions, I (and others in the Sea-to-Sky cohort) collected quartz samples near the terminus of the Herbert Glacier in Alaska to process and analyze for Be-10 isotopes. The ratio of Be-10 to Be-9 will help us derive the age of the bedrock matrix that contained quartz as well as when that rock was exposed upon the retreat of the Herbert Glacier from that point.
For this project, I worked with Dr. Aaron Putnam in the School of Earth and Climate Sciences at the University of Maine.
Evaluation of Institutional Diversity within NASA ROSES Review Panels
January - May 2023 at NASA Headquarters
Who has a seat at the table when deciding what proposals get funding by NASA? What institutions are represented on review panels and how diverse are they? This project was motivated by recommendations in Astro2020 for "collecting, evaluating, and reporting demographic data and indicators pertaining to equitable outcomes" (p. 3-29; table S-1) and to establish a baseline for future research and recommendations pertaining to NASA ROSES review panels. Through analysis of the panels of four NASA ROSES calls, I was able to determine trends in the make-up of review panels and provide recommendations for future work to improve institutional diversity.
For this project, I worked under the mentorship of Dr. Antonino Cucchiara in the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters.
A copy of my final presentation is available upon request.
Mind the Gap: How Precursor Science Enables the Future Great Observatories
June - December 2022 at NASA Headquarters
What is the state of Extreme-Precision Radial Velocity (EPRV) exoplanet detection research? How can we improve this methodology by mitigating host star variability to detect Earth-size exoplanets for study with the Habitable Worlds Observatory? This research was motivated by these questions through the lens of precursor science -- scientific investigations that will inform mission architectures to reduce mission design and development cost, scope, and risk -- to evaluate the state of key research needed for the Future Great Observatories.
For this project, I worked under the mentorship of Dr. Eric Smith and Dr. Terri Brandt in the JWST Program Office with the Great Observatories Maturation Program (GOMaP) and the Astro2020 Precursor Science Program.
I presented this work within NASA in August and December 2022, as well as an iPoster presentation at AAS 241 in January 2023 and poster presentation at the Science with the Habitable Worlds Observatory and Beyond conference at STScI in July 2023.
Poster Presentation: Science with the Habitable Worlds Observatory and Beyond conference in Baltimore, MD
Host Star Variability HWO poster v2.pptxiPoster Presentation: 241st Meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle, WA
Final report, Fall 2022 term
Mind the gap_ How precursor science enables the Future Great Observatories.pdfClouds, Cameras, and Composition: Characterizing spectral differences between co-located Pandoras
June - August 2019 at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
This research project was motivated by inconsistencies between Pandora spectrometer instruments in collecting total-column nitrogen dioxide data from the same location at NASA Goddard. To evaluate differences in data, I looked at cloud type and cloud coverage, spectrometer instrumentation for Sun-tracking, and atmospheric composition.
I completed this research during my internship with the Pandora Project in the Earth Science Division under Dr. Robert Swap (PI) and Dr. Alexander Kotsakis (postdoc).
I presented this research at the 2019 Science Jamboree at NASA GSFC and Physcon 2019 in Providence, RI.
Poster presentation for the 2019 Physics Congress (Physcon) in Providence, RI.
Poster for physcon.pdfFinal report, Summer 2019 term
Final report.pdfPhotometric Study of Groombridge 1618 for a Potential Planetary System
2016 - 2018 in the Department of Physics at the University of Maine
Groombridge 1618 is a K-type star of which the possibility of a planetary system has been debated. Its size and luminosity make it a likely candidate in the search for life, but a planetary system has yet to be confirmed. This research resulted in a false positive.
I completed this research as a member of Dr. David Batuski's research group at the University of Maine with data collected from the Versant Power Astronomy Center in Orono, ME, and the MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA) located at Mt. Hopkins, AZ.
I presented this research at the Maine State Science Fair in 2016, where I was awarded the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research Award, and 2018, where I was awarded First Prize in the category of Physics and Astronomy and a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Maine.