ABOUT ME
I became interested in science from an early age and grew to appreciate astronomy greatly throughout my childhood. My interest in planets evolved from watching science fiction dramas like Star Trek: TNG and Contact due to their exploratory nature of alien worlds.
As a graduate student, I discovered that it was possible to have a career exploring alien worlds, no starship required. From there, I became interested in the dynamics of planetary orbits and the possible origins of planets.
Today, I am a currently a research scientist Center for Relativistic Astrophysics at Georgia Tech. I use numerical methods to explore the dynamical nature of planetary systems that orbit single stars like TRAPPIST-1 and those that have more than one stellar host like the Kepler circumbinary planets.
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Exoplanets in Binary Star Systems
-
Alpha Centauri AB
-
Proxima Centauri
-
Kepler Circumbinary planets
-
RV Circumprimary planets
2002 - 2006
Texas Christian University
-- B.S. Physics & Astronomy
Solar System Dynamics
-
Terrestrial planet formation (from embryos)
-
Formation of the Moon
-
Bombardment
-
Orbital evolution of the giant planets
-
Nice model
-
Kuiper Belt
Exoplanet Discovery and Characterization
-
Kepler Object of Interest (KOI) catalogs
-
Warm, Large Exoplanets (WaLEs)
Obliquity (Axial Tilt) Evolution
-
Solar System planets and analogs
-
Kepler-62e & 62f
-
Kepler-186f
2006 - 2008
Stephen F. Austin State University
-- M.S. Physics
2008 - 2012
University of Texas -- Arlington
-- Ph.D. Physics