Experience

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

• United States
• Research
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Associate Scientist

  • Feb 2023 - Present

• Assistant Scientist

  • Jul 2019 - Present

  Science and user support for the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA)



WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Postdoctoral Researcher

  • Jul 2018 - Jul 2019

  As a postdoctoral scientist at WVU, I studied the enigmatic Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) as part of the RealFast team. The RealFast project involves real-time detection of fast (3-10 millisecond) radio transients by monitoring all observations being performed by the Very Large Array (VLA). My responsibilities included testing and updating software and writing proposals for follow-up time on various telescopes. I also continued to study classical novae with radio observations, and low frequency radio transients.



The George Washington University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Scientist

  • Jul 2016 - Jul 2018

  I worked as Research Scientist studying variable and transient astrophysical sources at radio wavelengths. This work involved observations from the VLA Low-frequency and Ionosphere Experiment (VLITE) and LOFAR. I used python analyze and display the collected data. I presented results of this project at multiple professional meetings, including one international meeting. I also continued my work studying classical novae, explosions on the surfaces of dead stars, with the VLA and VLBA. I wrote several susccessful proposals for both telescope time and grant funding. I continues my astronomy outreach work participating in Astronomy on Tap - DC, and the Astronomy Night on the National Mall events. I was also secondary instructor for an Introductory Astronomy SCALE-UP class for undergraduates. The SCALE-UP class is an active learning style where instructors give several brief lectures per class, but spend at least half the class guiding students through several hands-on activities.



Michigan State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Associate

  • Jul 2013 - Jun 2016

  I worked as a post-doctoral Research Scientist at Michigan State University position studying explosions on the surfaces of dead stars using radio telescopes. The project involved observations of classical novae with the Very Large Array (VLA). This involved both monitoring observations to construct the long-term radio light curves of many sources, and high-resolution imaging observations to reveal the morphology of the ejecta. I also made several observations with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) to look for evidence of non-thermal (synchrotron) emission from shocks in the ejecta. I was responsible for scheduling all VLA and VLBA observations. I performed the data calibration and imaging using a combination of AIPS, CASA, and difmap. I used python for the data analysis and visualization. This worked produced multiple publications in Nature, The Astrophysical Journal, and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. I presented the results at several professional meetings. I wrote several successful proposals for both time on telescopes and grant funding. I also became involved in astronomy outreach programs, including Astronomy on Tap - Lansing, a monthly event where participants present short (15-minute) talks about astronomical topics to an audience at a local bar. I also worked at several events focused on elementary-aged children.



The University of New Mexico

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdocoral Researcher

  • Jan 2013 - Jun 2013

  After completing my Ph.D., I worked as a Research Scientist for my advisor. For this position, I was responsible for creating high-resolution images of active galaxies with radio telescopes in a continuation of my dissertation work. I also assisted with the construction and operation of the Long Wavelength Array radio telescope. This included time as the LWA operator, scheduling and running planned observations and monitoring the health of the observatory.

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • Jun 2010 - Dec 2012

  For my Ph.D., my dissertation involved studying active galaxies with high-resolution radio telescopes. I primarily used the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) to acquire images of the cores and jets of active galactic nuclei which were detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The VLBA images revealed the sub-pc scale morphology of the sources, including polarimetry. The project led to 3 publications in The Astrophysical Journal, on which I was first author. I performed the data calibration in AIPS, imaging in difmap, and analysis in Matlab. I also presented the results of my research in posters and oral presentations at several meetings and seminars.

• Adjunct Faculty

  • Aug 2009 - May 2010

  Between my Masters and Ph.D., I worked as an Adjunct Instructor for the University of New Mexico - Valencia Campus. I taught Introductory Astronomy (non-major) lecture and laboratory classes. I was responsible for designing all of my lectures and laboratory activities, creating all homework assignments and exams, and all grading. The laboratory classes included hands-on telescope observations with the university's Dobsonian and Cassegrain telescopes.

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • Aug 2006 - Aug 2009

  While getting my Masters I designed and deployed an optical spectrophotometer at the UNM campus observatory. The design involved both conceptual and practical work, including drawing up detailed plans for telescope attachments to be constructed in the UNM Physics Department Machine Shop. The image analysis and data reduction work was done in Matlab. I assisted in the assembly of a pre-fab dome for the new telescope. I was responsible for telescope operations and data collection. I presented the early results of the project in posters at the AAS winter meetings. My final task was to collect spectra of artificial satellites for the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM.

• Graduate Teaching Assistant

  • Aug 2004 - Aug 2006

  During graduate school, I was responsible for teaching undergraduate Introductory Astronomy (non-major) laboratory classes. I wrote and presented brief (10-15 minute) lectures for each class. During class time, I led about 20-25 students through each lab, answering questions and providing guidance. The class was an interactive learning design with students in teams of 2-3 working on computers. I was also responsible for grading each team's lab, and an observing project. I also worked several nights a semester at the UNM Campus Observatory open house events.



Los Alamos National Laboratory

• United States
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • May 2011 - Aug 2011

  During the summer of 2011, I was an off-site graduate research assistant for Los Alamos National Laboratory (T2 Division). My work involved studying active galaxies with radio telescopes. The overall project was focused on understanding the large-scale magnetic fields in the Universe. I also assisted with mentoring an undergraduate student on the project. During the summer of 2011, I was an off-site graduate research assistant for Los Alamos National Laboratory (T2 Division). My work involved studying active galaxies with radio telescopes. The overall project was focused on understanding the large-scale magnetic fields in the Universe. I also assisted with mentoring an undergraduate student on the project.



Head Engineering Services, LLC.

• United States
• Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Data Analyst

  • Jul 2005 - Dec 2005

  This was a part-time data analysis job during graduate school. The company was sub-contracting for Boeing for off-site work related to national defense at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM. My duties were focused on analyzing optical telescope images of geostationary satellites for a monitoring project. Image analysis was done in Matlab. This was a part-time data analysis job during graduate school. The company was sub-contracting for Boeing for off-site work related to national defense at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM. My duties were focused on analyzing optical telescope images of geostationary satellites for a monitoring project. Image analysis was done in Matlab.



Los Alamos National Laboratory

• United States
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Post-Baccalaureate Intern

  • Jun 2003 - Aug 2004

  For this position, I was studying lightning optical emission with custom-made detectors. Part of the job included deploying an experiment at a remote atmospheric laboratory (Langmuir Lab, NM) with small team of undergraduate students. I did the data analysis with IDL. For this position, I was studying lightning optical emission with custom-made detectors. Part of the job included deploying an experiment at a remote atmospheric laboratory (Langmuir Lab, NM) with small team of undergraduate students. I did the data analysis with IDL.