Katie Morzinski

PhD candidate, expected 2011 March
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz
Dissertation: Adaptive optics for high-contrast imaging of faint substellar companions
Thesis Committee: Bruce Macintosh, Claire Max, Don Gavel, Jonathan Fortney

MSc, 2006 September
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz
Project: Extreme adaptive optics and high-contrast imaging in astronomy
Advisors: Bruce Macintosh, Claire Max, Don Gavel, Scott Severson

BSc, 2001 May
Astronomy & Physics, Boston University
Magna cum Laude

BA, 2001 May
Elementary Education, Boston University
Summa cum Laude

2005 Jan.–Present, Graduate student researcher, Astronomical adaptive optics, UCSC
High-contrast adaptive optics (AO) imaging survey for Hyades faint companions
MEMS deformable mirrors: characterization, performance, & modeling (lab & on-sky)
Advisors: Bruce Macintosh (LLNL); Don Gavel, Claire Max, Scott Severson (UCSC)

2001 May–Oct., Site-testing technician/Observing assistant, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff AZ
Site-testing for Discovery Channel Telescope
Triton stellar occultation
Transit search for exoplanets
Supervisors: Ted Dunham, Tom Bida (Lowell Observatory); Jim Elliot (MIT)

1998–2000 Summers, Undergrad. researcher, Space physics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM
In-situ study of solar-wind ions in Earth’s magnetosphere
Mentor: Michelle Thomsen

Research interests:
Adaptive optics, observing/instrumentation, high-contrast imaging, MEMS deformable mirrors, brown dwarfs, exoplanets, stellar occultations, science education.
Professional membership:
American Astronomical Society, SPIE (optical engineering), Center for Adaptive Optics (CfAO)
Professional service:
2009, Referee, Optics Express
2005–Present (approx. bi-monthly), Tour guide, Laboratory for Adaptive Optics (donors, UC admin./VIPs, CfAO Summer School attendees, students, visitors, etc.)