Science

Image Credit: NASA/ESA

Exoplanet Atmospheres

There are over 5,700 known planets outside of our solar system, known as exoplanets. My primary research focuses on making computer models of the atmospheres of these planets and using those models to understand observations with space telescopes (JWST, Hubble, and Spitzer). I want to understand how exoplanets form, placing our own solar system within the much broader context of planetary systems in the universe.
Picture











Image Credit: NASA/JPL

Science Missions

  • Pandora SmallSat: Pandora is a NASA Pioneers mission that aims to characterize stellar activity and its impacts on exoplanet observations. Pandora is targeting a 2025 launch. 
  • NASA/JPL Astrophysics Mission Design School (2023): With a team of 18 early career researchers and mentors, we developed an ultraviolet telescope mission concept to observe exoplanet atmospheres and transient astronomical targets.
  • Mapping the Science Output of Missions: I developed methods for tracing the science and media impact of space 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

The surface of Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons, 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.  ​