Immediately after the Big Bang, the only elements in the Universe were hydrogen, helium, and a pinch of lithium. Understanding how we went from that simple broth to the complex stew of today's periodic table is at the core of galactic archeology. To accomplish this, we must understand the interplay between stars and their galactic environments. This is the science I love, and focus on!

My graduate thesis work---supervised by Dr. Gail Zasowski---focuses on using the chemistry and ages of stellar populations, such as open clusters and binaries, to study the chemical and dynamical evolution of the Milky Way. As a stellar spectroscopist, I use high-resolution spectra from optical and near-infrared surveys such as GALAH and SDSS in addition to codes like Turbospectrum and Korg to derive elemental abundances. And to study ages, I use synthetic stellar populations and integrated TESS lightcurves to detect variable star signals.

Beyond my scientific research, I am also deeply passionate about science outreach and communication. While I have particiapted in numerous outreach activities throughout my career, currently I am focusing on two avenues of particiaption: I a writer for Astrobites, as well as the organizer for Salt Lake City's branch of Astronomy on Tap.

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Get In Touch

u1363702 at utah dot edu