Science

Image Credit: NASA/ESA

Exoplanet Atmospheres

The growing number of known planets outside of our solar system (>5,000) allows us to consider population-level trends in their properties and formation histories. My primary PhD research focuses on modeling the atmospheres of these planets (exoplanets). I use these models to fit data from space telescopes - JWST, Hubble, and Spitzer.

Exoplanet observations with spectroscopy data can tell us a lot about a planet's composition and climate, but inferring this information requires data-model comparisons. With modeling, we can produce thousands of planets with specific properties to predict population-level trends and compare them to data. This helps us to more deeply understand the physics at play in atmospheres, and to optimize observational follow-up.
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Image Credit: NASA/JPL

Science Mission Formulation

  • Pandora SmallSat Mission: Pandora is targeting a 2025 launch. The mission aims to characterize stellar activity and its impacts on exoplanet observations. 
  • JPL Astrophysics Mission Design School (2023): With a team of 18 early career researchers and mentors from NASA JPL and Goddard, we developed a probe-class, ultra-violet telescope mission concept to observe exoplanet atmospheres and transient astronomical targets. 
  • Mapping the Science Output of Missions: I developed methods for tracing science and media output from space science missions. By tracing key terms in science literature and popular media, we can visualize scientific subfields evolving and track what terms resonate with the public to improve science communication. 
Image Credit: NASA

Enceladus Surface Features

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Center for Earth and Planetary Science, PI: Dr. Emily Martin
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The surface of Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, is covered in "pit chains." Chains of pits form in surface regolith (loose material) along cracks, and by measuring their depths we can produce a global map of regolith depth. That map, along with the positioning of pit chains, can provide information about Enceladus' formation history and its continued activity.  Link to Publication​