I am an experimental astrophysicist.  My research interests are the detection and characterization of extrasolar planets and their host stars, and I pursue these goals by building, developing, and using new instruments. I primarily work in the field of high-contrast imaging and also have experience with radial velocity exoplanet instrumentation. Previously to joining the faculty of the IfA, I was an optical engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, working on developing the WFIRST Coronagraph camera, formation flying sensors for the Starshade mission, and wavefront sensing for large ground-based telescopes.  I also led small a team in developing new post-processing algorithms for exoplanet imaging. To find out more about my research, visit my group website here.

My research is located at the intersection of astronomy, optics, and data analysis, working towards the goal of taking pictures of planets around other stars.  Exoplanet imaging is a technically challenging field, and as such, a large fraction of my time is building and working with new instrumentation.  Particular interests include wavefront sensing and control for ground based telescopes, data analysis and post-processing algorithms for exoplanet imaging, and developing the next generations of detectors for ground and space-based instruments.  My group makes regular use of the largest telescopes in the world for observing planets and disks. Interested students are welcome to contact me about potentially working together. To find out more, visit my group website here.

Activities

• Infrared imaging of the circumstellar regions of nearby stars
• Detector development (APDs, EMCCDs, MKIDs)
• Focal plane wavefront sensing and control
• Planetary companions around nearby binaries
• Post-processing and data analysis algorithms
• Optical sensing for spacecraft control

Publications

I have taught graduate and undergraduate courses in stellar physics, the interstellar and intergalactic medium, astronomy lab, and space optical engineering systems.

• ASTR260 - Computational physics and Astronomy (Spring 2021)

Reviewer for Astronomy & Astrophysics; Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific; Journal of Astronomical Telescope Instruments, and Systems; Optical Engineering, 2014-present Session chair, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation Meeting, 2017 NASA funding review panel member, 2015-present NASA graduate fellowship review panel, 2018-present Graduate admissions committee, California Institute of Technology, 2013 Astronomy outreach team, California Institute of Technology

• Member, American Astronomical Society
• Member, SPIE

Honors

• JPL Section 347 (guidance and control) award, 2019
• NASA Voyager award for individual achievement, 2017, 2018
• NASA Group Achievement Award, WFIRST coronagraph technology development team, 2018
• NASA Group Achievement Award, Exoplanet laser frequency comb team, 2017
• AAS Rodger Doxsey Travel Prize, honorable mention, 2016
• NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, 2013-2016

Graduate Students

Postdocs

Undergraduate Students