CV

PhD, MS

The Pennsylvania State University

Astronomy & Astrophysics

• Thesis Advisor: Dr. Joel Leja.
• Expected graduation date: May 2029.

BSc

Texas Christian University

Physics & Astronomy

• Thesis Advisor: Dr. Mia Bovill.
• Graduated summa cum laude.

Graduate Research Assistant

Penn State University

Developed tools (ESPS, PIGLET) to enable fast modeling of galaxy spectra in large surveys. Applied these tools to infer the recent star formation histories of galaxy populations across cosmic time, with a particular emphasis on burstiness. Presented results at conferences and seminars, and published research in peer-reviewed journals.

NSF DAWN IRES Senior Scholar

Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN), Neils Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen

Mentored undergraduate students participating in the program and led workshops on research skills used in the field of galaxy formation and evolution. Continued thesis research while in residence at DAWN.

NSF REU Research Assistant

University of Colorado at Boulder

Conducted research on how well modern radiative transfer codes can recover the absorption features in different spatial features (e.g., plage, faculae) of the solar disk. Presented results at the 2021 Winter American Geophysical Union meeting.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Texas Christian University

Conducted research on modeling the observable affects of a warm dark matter cosmology in the JWST era. Reduced spectra of nearby open clusters to calculate alpha element abundances. Presented results at the 2023 Winter American Astronomical Society meeting.

Undergraduate Research Mentor: Students Together for Astronomical Research (STAR) Program

Penn State University

Directly mentored undergraduate student Allyson Garcia on astrophysics research methodologies.

Guest Lecturer: ASTRO 291: Astronomical Methods and the Solar System

Penn State University

Guest Lecturer for ASTRO 291: Astronomical Methods and the Solar System

Teaching Assistant: PHYS 10293: Archeoastronomy

Texas Christian University

Teaching Assistant for PHYS 10293: Archeoastronomy

Teaching Assistant: PHYS 20475: Physics I for Majors

Texas Christian University

Teaching Assistant for PHYS 20475: Physics I for Majors

Clinical Data Analyst

Front Line Mobile Health, PLLC

Conducted research on the health of first responders. Developed a data pipeline to analyze and visualize health data to employers of first responders.

Harold and Nancy O'Connor Graduate Excellence Fund Scholarship

Penn State Eberly College of Science

First-place award at a student/postdoc-led research event featuring talks and posters judged by undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and faculty on communication effectiveness, with participation from all departments in the Eberly College of Science.

Frymoyer Award

Institute of Gravitation and the Cosmos

Awarded to IGC students who have achieved superior academic records or who manifest promise of outstanding academic success. The evaluation of the nominees was based on the nomination letters submitted by faculty members and the packets of materials submitted by the nominees.

Zaccheus Daniel Foundation for Astronomical Science Scholarship

Penn State Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Result of major contributions and achievements as a graduate student in the Penn State Astronomy & Astrophysics Department. Students were nominated by the faculty, and all nominees were evaluated by a committee based on criteria that included academic merit, research accomplishments, and service to the department.

University Graduate Fellowship

Penn State University

Intended to support recruitment of the very highest caliber prospective students to Penn State’s doctoral research programs. The prospects are individuals whose goals are to engage in original research and contribute new knowledge to their perspective fields for the ultimate benefit of society.

Stephen B. Brumbach Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Science

Penn State University

Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Science

Penn State University

Homer F. Braddock Scholarship in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

Penn State University

Dr. C.A. Quarles Physics and Astronomy Scholarship

Texas Christian University Department of Physics and Astronomy

Awardees are strong candidates for acceptance to graduate school. Received the award twice in separate application cycles. Two-time awardee.

Joseph Morgan Physics Scholarship

Texas Christian University Department of Physics and Astronomy

One scholarship per year, this award is based on the recommendation of the faculty for students who have demonstrated the greatest excellence and achievement.

Bob Bolen Leadership Scholarship

The Sarah & Ross Perot Jr. Foundation, Texas Christian University

Awardees exhibit leadership ability and/or potential and a commitment to community service.

TCU Scholar

Texas Christian University

Maintained a 4.0 GPA. Three-time awardee.

College of Science and Engineering Dean's List

Texas Christian University College of Science and Engineering. Six-time awardee.

Astronomy on Tap State College Organizer

Astronomy on Tap State College

Organized monthly public talks on astronomy topics, coordinated with speakers, and promoted events to engage the local community in astronomy outreach.

Society of Physics Students (SPS) President and Treasurer

Texas Christian University Chapter of the Society of Physics Students

Led the student chapter of the Society of Physics Students, organized events and meetings, managed finances, and coordinated events to grow participation across departmennts.

Public Lecture on "Why is Astronomy a Big Data Field?"

Astronomy on Tap State College

Presented a public lecture on the role of data science in modern astronomy, highlighting how astronomers use large datasets to understand the universe and the importance of data analysis skills in the field.

Public Lecture on "The Milky Way Through the Rainbow"

Astro Night at Penn State

Presented a public lecture on how astronomers use different wavelengths of light to study the Milky Way galaxy, showcasing the diverse phenomena that can be observed across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Public Lecture on "Suprises at the Edge fo the Universe Found with JWST"

Central Pennsylvania Observer's Society

Presented the latest discoveries from the JWST, focusing on unexpected findings about galaxies in the early Universe and their implications for our understanding of how galaxies form and evolve.