EDUCATION

Ph.D.,
Astronomy & Astrophysics		 University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor		 April 2010
M.S.
Astronomy & Astrophysics		 University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor		 August 2006
B.A. Physics
Concentration in Astronomy		 Northwestern University
 June 2004


RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Globular Clusters
  • Detailed Chemical Abundances
  • Chemical Evolution
  • Resolved & Unresolved Stellar Populations
  • Galaxy Formation and Evolution

TEACHING & MENTORING

Graduate Student Instructor:

Astro 101/111:
"The Solar System and the Search for Life Beyond Earth"

(University of Michigan, Profs. J. Monnier & B. Eckstein)		 Winter 2005

Astro 101/111:
"The Solar System and the Search for Life Beyond Earth"

(University of Michigan, Profs. E. Bergin & M. Putman) 		Fall 2005

Astro 102/112:
"Stars, Galaxies and the Universe"

(University of Michigan, Profs. S. Oey & H. Aller)		 Winter 2006
 
Mentoring:
Jesse Hanson Science Internship Project Summer 2012
  • High School Intern, Velocity Dispersions of Globular Clusters
Christina Jansen Science Internship Project Summer 2012
  • High School Intern, Integrated Light Ca Triplet Measurements
Ravi Tadinada Science Internship Project Summer 2012
  • High School Intern, Velocity Dispersions of Globular Clusters
Maria Fernanda Duran Sierra 2nd Year Project 2009-present
  • Ph.D. student (UCSC), Detailed Chemical Abundances of Globular Clusters in Elliptical Galaxies
Outreach:
UCSC Expanding Your Horizons Workshop Developer & Presenter
- Hands on astronomy activities to encourage high school women to pursue STEM fields 		2010-present
UCO/Lick Observatory "Ask An Astronomer" 2009-present


OBSERVING EXPERIENCE

  • Keck/HIRES optical echelle spectroscopy (22 nights)
  • Magellan/MIKE optical echelle spectroscopy (8 nights)
  • MDM 2.4m optical imaging (7 nights)

SUCCESSFUL PROPOSALS

Detailed Chemical Abundances of M31
Globular Clusters with HIRES

Keck Observing Proposal (PI Bernstein). Co-Investigator and primary author.		 2012

Detailed Chemical Abundances of M31
Globular Clusters with HIRES

Keck Observing Proposal (PI Bernstein). Co-Investigator and contributing author.		 2011

Detailed Abundances of GCs in
Local Group Galaxies

Keck Observing Proposal (PI Bernstein). Co-Investigator and primary author.		 2010

Detailed Chemical Abundances of SMC
Globular Clusters

Magellan Observing Proposal (PI Colucci). Primary Investigator and primary author.		 2009

Detailed Chemical Abundances of M31
Globular Clusters with HIRES

Keck Observing Proposal (PI Bernstein). Co-Investigator and primary author.		 2009

Detailed Chemical Abundances of NGC 205
Globular Clusters with HIRES

Keck Observing Proposal (PI Bernstein). Co-Investigator and primary author.		 2009

Detailed Chemical Abundances of M31
Globular Clusters with HIRES

Keck Observing Proposal (PI Bernstein). Co-Investigator and contributing author.		 2008

Detailed Abundances of Young Globular Clusters
from Integrated Light Spectroscopy

Magellan Observing Proposal (PI Bernstein). Co-Investigator. 		2006


AWARDS & HONORS

Best Poster Prize Recipient, NIC 2012 Aug 2012
Morrison Fellowship 2011
AAS Rodger Doxsey Prize 2010/11
Rackham One-Term Dissertation Fellowship 2010
Graduated with Honors in Physics 2004
Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honor Society inducted 2003
Henry Crew Scholarship for Physics 2001-2004


POSITIONS HELD

Morrison Postdoctoral Fellow
UCO/Lick Observatory, University of California		 4/2011-present
Postdoctoral Researcher with Dr. Rebecca A. Bernstein
UCO/Lick Observatory, University of California		 4/2010-4/2011
Graduate Student, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2004-2010
Student Researcher, with Dr. Giles Novak
Northwestern University		 7/2003-6/2004
Student Researcher, with Dr. Mayda Velasco
Northwestern University		 6/2002-9/2002