I've been at Columbia since 2004 and have had the opportunity to work with an excellent group of post-docs, graduate students and undergraduates. During that time two graduate students have completed their Ph.D. theses and two others are in progress. I've also maintained several close collaborations, particularly with researchers at Caltech, LAM/France, JHU and MPA/Garching.

My current research focuses on the infrared spectra of star-forming galaxies through the SSGSS survey. In particular, I am interested in the nature of the emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and what this emission can tell us about the roles of starburst and AGN activity in the formation and destruction of these particles. My research interests also include the study of quasars through gravitational microlensing and reverberation mapping.

I am completing my thesis on UVLGs (Ultraviolet Luminous Galaxies). These are low-z (z < 1) galaxies with FUV luminosities greater than 2x10¹⁰ solar luminosities. The most compact UVLGs are similar to high redshift Lyman Break Galaxies in a variety of ways (color, Dn(4000) break, specific SFR, metallicity, FUV attenuation, FUV surface brightness). For my thesis, I am studying various properties of these Lyman Break Analogs such as the radio properties (including attenuation and star formation history), environment, gas content, and kinematics. As examples of high star-forming, local systems, these galaxies pose many interesting questions regarding star formation and galaxy formation and evolution.

I'm a fifth-year graduate student working on the construction and flight of FIREBall (Faint Intergalactic Redshifted Emission Balloon). We're responsible for the integral field unit UV spectrograph. The spectrograph is fed by 400 hex packed fibers and operates in a narrow atmospheric gap around 200 nm. We're trying to detect emission from the WHIM (warm hot intergalactic medium). This 10⁵ - 10⁷ K gas emits through metal lines & hydrogen. Our waveband gives us access to OVI, CIV and Lyman alpha lines. FIREBall had its first flight in July of 2007 and will fly again in May/June 2009.

I am a fourth-year graduate student researching the formation and evolution of disk galaxies in a cosmological context. Using the AMR code enzo to model the co-evolution of galaxies in a large volume of space since the Big Bang, I systematically vary feedback parameters. By comparing the results of these simulations with GALEX, HST, and Spitzer observations, I hope to be able to determine which modes of feedback are responsible for creating the disk galaxies we see in the Universe around us.

I am a first-year graduate student using GALEX data to study high star-forming galaxies and, in particular, their evolution as a function of redshift.

I am studying a sample of IR-luminous, high star-forming galaxies that have been observed in the UV, the IR, and the optical. I am currently doing UV photometry of these galaxies using GALEX data. The resulting UV magnitudes, in combination with the IR and optical measurements, will yield colors and star formation rates for the sample. Neutral hydrogen measurements for a subset of these galaxies will be obtained in order to determine how the neutral hydrogen gas responds to a variety of physical conditions in the galaxies, providing insight into the physical mechanisms that regulate and quench star formation.

I help with the design and building of equipment in the lab. I'm currently working on a vacuum reflectometer to measure optical reflectance of various samples to learn about different types of coatings for optical systems.

My senior thesis will focus on the production of an all-sky map of the Milky Way's IGM. The map will be produced using GALEX data through Python's Healpix software, Healpy.

Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate (Mathematics) at UC Irvine

Last Updated: Fall 2009

Current Position: Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Cambridge

Last Updated: Fall 2009

Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar at Spitzer Science Center

Last Updated: Fall 2009

Current Position: Research Analyst at Bank of America

Last Updated: Fall 2009

Current Position: ?

Last Updated: Fall 2009

Current Position: ?

Last Updated: Fall 2009

Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate (Aerospace Engineering) at University of Arizona

Last Updated: Fall 2009