I’m an observational astronomer working on the detection of potentially habitable exoplanets.
I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech improving instrumentation and data analysis techniques for the detection of exoplanets, in order to advance us into the realm of extreme precision spectroscopy necessary for the discovery of Earth analogs.
Education
PhD, Astronomy & Astrophysics
The Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor of Arts
Astrophysics (honors) + English (Creative Writing)
Franklin & Marshall College
Appointments
Robert A. Millikan Prize Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Astronomy, California Institute of Technology
Project Scientist
The Keck Planet Finder Spectrograph
Graduate Research Assistant
Dept. of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State University
Post-Baccalaureate Researcher
Dept. of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State University
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Lucille & William Hackman Research Scholar
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Franklin & Marshall College
Grants & Awards
W. M. Keck Institute for Space Studies Affiliate Caltech
Distinguished Doctoral Scholar Medal Penn State
Alumni Association Dissertation Award Penn State
Rodger Doxsey Dissertation Award AAS
Astronomy Postdoctoral Fellowship NSF (declined)
Lab Bench to Commercialization Grant Penn State
Zaccheus Daniel Fellowship Penn State
Lewis and Clark Field Scholar in Astrobiology NASA
Downsbrough Graduate Fellowship Penn State
Center for Exoplanets & Habitable Worlds Grant PSU
Brumbach Graduate Fellowship in Astrophysics PSU
SDSS Astronomer Travel Award Sloan Foundation
Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Sigma Xi
Mumma Senior Prize in Physics & Astronomy F&M
Joseph R. Holzinger Senior Astronomy Award F&M
John Kershner Physics Scholar F&M
Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society F&M
William Uhler Hensel Junior & Senior Prize F&M
Sigma Pi Sigma National Honor Society F&M
2017
2017
2017
2017
2016
2011, 2014, 2016
2015
2015
2015
2013
2013
2013
2009
2009
2008, 2009
2009
2008, 2009
2007