Ph.D. in Astronomy August 2022
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa - Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Dissertation: Rotational Characterization of TESS Stars with Deep Learning
Advisor: Professor Jennifer van Saders
About Me
I’m an astronomical data scientist whose work combines stellar astrophysics, machine learning, and the tools researchers use to explore space-based survey data.
Science & Functional Work at STScI
My STScI work connects the science coming from space-based surveys with the archive systems researchers use to access it. On the functional side, I coordinate MAST operations for the Roman Space Telescope, contribute to data ingest, and guide products including the Light Curve Similarity Search and Hello Universe. On the science side, I develop methods for extracting stellar rotation and activity from large photometric datasets, using machine learning and light-curve analysis to study stellar ages and evolution. This builds on my Kepler and TESS research and supports the science potential of the upcoming Roman Galactic Bulge Time Domain Survey.
Outside Work
Originally from Chillicothe, Ohio, I enjoy hiking, bowling, reading, playing softball, eating good food, and making good coffee.
Education
M.S. in Astronomy December 2018
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa - Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
B.A. in Astrophysics | minor in ReligionMay 2016
Ohio Wesleyan University - Delaware, Ohio
Thesis: Surface Features on Pluto
Advisor: Professor Robert Harmon
Zane Trace High School May 2012
Chillicothe, Ohio
Professional Experience
Staff Astronomical Data Scientist April 2024–present
Space Telescope Science Institute
- Coordinate Roman operations for the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST).
- Product owner for the Light Curve Similarity Search and Hello Universe.
Postdoctoral Associate October 2022–April 2024
University of Florida
- Studied stellar rotation and activity using machine learning.
- Developed and maintained open-source astronomy software.
Graduate Research Assistant August 2016–August 2022
University of Hawaiʻi
- Designed neural networks to detect stellar rotation in light curves.
- Built a Python interpolator for rotating stellar model grids.