Significant Projects

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2024

Calibrating the Extragalactic RR Lyrae Population with HST and JWST ERS [iPoster]
- Pre-thesis research project
- Uses overlapping observations from the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to find and analyze periodicity of RR Lyrae stars in nearby dwarf galaxies
- Implemented and adapted existing MCMC template-fitting code for varying needs of different observation filters
- Papers forthcoming
- Preliminary results for galaxy WLM presented at AAS 244 summer meeting in Madison, WI

2023

Disentangling the Shadows of a Planetary Collision [Thesis]
- M.Sc. thesis
- Simulated planetesimal collision remnants in Python
- Created model light curves for simulated remnant transit around distant stars
- Fit model light curves to real data
Ultra-Hot Rocky Planets (Lava Worlds) (Spring 2023)[Report]
- Final group paper for Exoplanets: Interiors and Atmospheres
- Analyzes current literature about so-called “Lava World”-type planets, as well as discussing future pathways for further reserach and observation
Modelling Sub-Neptunes with MESA (Spring 2023) [Report]
- Project for Exoplanets: Interiors and Atmospheres
- Makes use of the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) 1-D evolution code

2022

SDSS Object Classification with Random Forest (Fall 2022) [Report] [Github]
- Project for Introduction to Machine Learning
- Classification of a number of SDSS objects as stars, QSOs, and galaxies
- Written in Python using Jupyter
- Machine learning methods used include:
  - Dimensionality Reduction:
    - Principle Component Analysis (PCA)
    - Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP)
    - T-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (TSNE)
  - Clustering:
    - K-means
    - Density-based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN)
  - Binary Tree Learners
  - Simple Cross-Validation
  - Random Forest Ensemble Learning
  - Grid Search Cross-Validation for Metaparameter Tuning
AdaBoost Ensemble Learning with a Linear Halfspaces Perceptron Algorithm (Fall 2022) [Report] [Github]
- Project for Introduction to Machine Learning
- Written in Python
- Machine learning methods used include:
  - Linear Halfspaces weak learners
  - Perceptron Algorithms
  - Ensemble Learning via AdaBoost algorithm
Nebular Chewing Gum: A Modeled Radiation Field Search for Bubble Structures in the Greater Orion Nebula Region (School Year 2021-2022) [Report] [iPoster]
- First-year MSc research project
- Used modeled radiation field code to identify regions of the Greater Orion Nebula where radiative input is not dominated by the Trapezium
- Studied equivalent regions in Herschel 70/160 micron and SOFIA CII data
- Identified a new fossil bubble structure around star HD 37150
- Presented as an iPoster at AAS 241
The Evolution of a 1.5M⊙ Star (Spring 2022) [Report]
- Project for Stellar Structure and Evolution
- Makes use of the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) 1-D evolution code
Quantum Wavepacket Tunneling Simulation (Spring 2022) [Github]
- Project for Computational Physics
- Written in Python
Ising Model MCMC Simulation (Spring 2022) [Report] [Github]
- Project for Computational Physics
- Written in Python
Argon Molecular Dynamics Simulation (Spring 2022) [Report] [Gitlab]
- Project for Computational Physics
- Written in Python
- Uses object-oriented methods

2021

Modelling Lidov-Kozai Oscillations and Tidal Friction in a System of Exomoons (Fall 2021) [Report] [Github]
- Term project for Simulation and Modelling in Astrophysics in AMUSE
- Written in Python utilizing the Astrophysical Multipurpose Software Environment
Hubble’s Law and the Hubble Tension: A Brief Overview (Spring 2021) [Paper]
- Final paper for intro-level History and Philosophy of Science class
- Base-level description of the Hubble Tension
Determining the age of ε Chamaeleontis with MIST Isochrones (Winter 2021) [Report] [Analysis Toolkit]
- Final Project for graduate-level Observational Galactic Astrophysics
- Written in Python using Jupyter
Observational Basis for Standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and Modeling in PRIMAT (Winter 2021) [Report]
- Final paper for graduate-level Cosmology

2020

Modeling Tidal Disruption Events in a Classical Regime (Fall 2020) [Report] [Video] [Github]
- Final project for an upper-level Physical Modeling class (COSC 89.18)
- Written in C++
Analyzing Straylight X-Ray Binaries with NuSTAR (Summer 2020) [Report][Poster]
- SURF project completed Summer 2020. Poster presented at virtual seminar for Caltech SFP students
Refining the Age of the Universe Using Globular Clusters: Prerequisite Work (Spring 2020) [Poster]
- Preliminary work for culminating research project
- Poster presented virtually at Physics and Astronomy Department Symposium May 2020
Using SED Model Fitting to Search for Star-Forming Galaxies at z>4.5 (Winter 2020) [Report] [Poster]
- Final project for an intermediate-level Astronomy class (“Galaxies and Cosmology”)

2019

Computer Modeling and Simulation Project (Fall 2019) [Report]
- Coding project for an intermediate-level Quantum Mechanics class
- Code written in MATLAB
Polyphonic Digital Synthesizer (Summer 2019) [Report] [Github]
- Final project for a Digital Electronics class
- Code written primarily in VHDL
A Deeper Analysis of Cataclysmic Variable V383 Vel (Winter 2019) [Report]
- Final Paper for a Special Topics class in Astronomy
- Completed as part of a study-abroad to South Africa
- Project included a week-long observing run at SAAO

2018

Improving Metal-Poor Stellar Evolution Models (Spring 2018) [Poster]
- Presented at Wetterhan Science Symposium
- Research was done as an intern of the Women In Science Project (WISP) at Dartmouth College