Education

• Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 2022 (expected)
• M.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 2019
  • Focus Area: Remote Sensing, Earth and Space Science
• B.S. in Astronomy & Astrophysics, Villanova University, 2017
  • Minors in Mathematics, Physics, Communication, and Honors

Honors and Awards

• Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship (2020)
• John A. Vise Award, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences (2020)
• AIAA Aviation Week’s 20 Twenties Award (2020)
• American Geophysical Union Outstanding Student Presentation Award (2019)
• Los Alamos National Laboratory Vela Fellowship (2018)
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2017-present)
  • Grant no. DGE 1650115
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Villanova University (2017)
• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society (2017)
• Cardelli Award, Villanova University (2017)
• American Geophysical Union Student T-Shirt Design Contest Winner (2016)
• National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (2016)
  • Grant no. 1157020
• Edward F. Jenkins Scholarship, Villanova University (2016)
• National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates, Lehigh University (2015)
  • Grant no. PHY 1359195
• Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society (2015)
• Edwin F. Bailey Scholarship, Villanova University (2014)
• Villanova University Honors Program (2013-2017)

Research Experience

• NSF Graduate Research Fellow, University of Colorado Boulder (2017-present)
  • Thesis: Evaluating Drag Coefficient Modeling Assumptions in Helium-Rich Space Environments: Updated and developed drag coefficient models using information gleaned from orbital data. Worked on empirical analysis of multi-satellite drag observations to infer information about the physics of drag coefficient modeling and the variability of derived thermospheric densities at high altitudes.
  • Space Weather Scenario Tool: Helped to develop a web-based resource for users to map out sequences of complex space weather events. The tool is designed using D3 JavaScript as an interactive tree map and contributes to space weather research-to-operations, visualization, and educational goals.
  • Deep Space Radiation Genomics (DSRG) Experiment on Artemis 1: Magnetotail and Bow Shock Effect: Selected experimental time windows for the DSRG experiment based on when the lunar-orbiting Artemis 1 is exposed to the solar wind radiation environment outside the magnetotail.
• Space Weather Summer School Vela Fellow, Los Alamos National Laboratory (2018)
  • Investigating Helium in TIE-GCM Predictions of Satellite Drag: Characterized the impact of atmospheric helium on the satellite drag experienced by Low Earth Orbit satellites, including CHAMP and GRACE. Simulated atmospheres with the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model using NCAR’s Cheyenne supercomputer.
• Student Research Intern, Los Alamos National Laboratory (2017)
  • Timing Comparisons for GLEs and High-Energy Proton Events using GPS Proton Measurements: Analyzed a variety of energetic particle datasets to investigate the arrival times of high-energy solar protons at GPS satellites, GOES spacecraft, and ground-based Neutron Monitor stations.
• NSF REU Research Assistant, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (2016)
  • Origin of Long-Duration Solar Gamma-ray Flares: Statistically analyzed connections between long-duration gamma-ray flares and solar energetic particles, X-ray flares, coronal mass ejections, and type II radio bursts. Collaborated with scientists from the National Solar Observatory, Atmospheric and Environmental Research, and the Fermi Large Area Telescope group.
• NSF REU Research Assistant, Lehigh University (2015)
  • Precovery of Eclipsing Binaries: Analyzed light curves of eclipsing binary stars observed by Kepler/K2 and the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT) to identify timing variations and refine periods.

Teaching and Mentoring Experience

• Graduate Mentor to Undergraduate Student, University of Colorado Boulder (2020-present)
  • LASP REU Program: Served as a mentor to an undergraduate REU student. Aided the student in creating an online Space Weather Glossary as well as completing a research project to predict and visualize how the moon interacts with the magnetotail.
  • CU Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program: Worked with an undergraduate student to create timelines of complex space weather storms and impacts and develop an interactive, web-based space weather scenario tool.
• Teaching Assistant, University of Colorado Boulder, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences (2019)
  • Aerospace Environment, advanced graduate course
• Teaching Assistant, Villanova University, Physics Department (2015-2017)
  • Mechanics, introductory undergraduate course
  • Electricity and Magnetism, introductory undergraduate course
  • Thermodynamics, intermediate undergraduate course
  • Mathematical Physics, advanced undergraduate course
• Teaching Assistant, Villanova University, Astrophysics and Planetary Science Department (2015 - 2017)
  • Stars and Planets, introductory undergraduate course

Publications

Check out my full list of journal articles, conference proceedings papers, and technical reports on my Publications tab!

Presentations

Check out my full list of presentations, including invited talks and other conference presentations and posters, on my Presentations tab!

Professional Service

• STEMinar Co-Director, University of Colorado Boulder, Center for STEM Learning (2019-present)
  • Organized graduate student research talks from STEM disciplines with the goal of promoting interdisciplinary science communication. Applied for grants.
• Science Speak-Easy Workshop Organizer, University of Colorado Boulder, Fiske Planetarium (2019-present)
  • Developed workshop sessions, invited expert speakers, and applied for grants for this annual, student-run science communication workshop for early career researchers
• Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Committee Chair, University of Colorado Boulder (2019-present)
  • Prepared grant proposals and secured funding for outreach events for WiSE, a graduate student organization dedicated to mentorship and outreach supporting women in STEM
• Panelist for:
  • The Up-Goer Five Challenge: Explaining Big, Important Things in Simple Words, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (2020)
  • NSF REU Near Peer Alumni Panel, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (2019)
  • Graduate School/Early-Career Panel, Space Weather Workshop (2019)
• Reviewer for:
  • NSF REU Travel Grant Applications, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (2019)

Community Service and Outreach

• Art + Science + Action Partnerships Cohort, University of Colorado Boulder, Office of Outreach and Engagement (2021-present)
  • Developing a project called “Waste in Space: A Human-Centered Approach to Exploring Sustainable Practices in Near-Earth Space”. Fostering partnerships with local artists, community leaders, and science advisors to explore pathways to action regarding the space junk problem
• Expanding Your Horizons, University of Colorado Boulder (2019)
  • Designed a space weather workshop with interactive sunspot observing for a day of hands-on workshops which brings 200+ middle school girls to the CU Boulder engineering center
• Science Ambassador, CU Science Discovery (2018-2019)
  • Built a table-top miniature golf course with an LED light-up display as a way to demonstrate how charged particles from the Sun interact with magnetic field lines and can enter the atmosphere to create aurora
  • Back-to-School Event: shared the “Particle Putt-Putt” space plasma mini-golf course with families at this community event
• Super Science Saturday Volunteer, National Center for Atmospheric Research (2017)
  • Engaged K-12 children with magnetism and space weather
• Volunteer Tutor, North Light Community Center (2013-2014)
  • Tutored disadvantaged elementary school children in math in an afterschool program
• Public Observatory Operator, Villanova University (2013-2014)
  • Operated the 14” Celestron CGE telescope that is open to the public. Communicated which stars and planets could be seen through the telescope.

Professional Training and Development

• Artificial Intelligence for Earth System Science (AI4ESS) Summer School, National Center for Atmospheric Research (2020)
• ComSciCon Rocky Mountain West, University of Colorado Boulder (2019)
• Colorado Science Policy Summit, Colorado Project Bridge, University of Colorado Anschutz (2019)
• Boulder Space Weather Summer School, High Altitude Observatory (2019)
• Science Speak-Easy Workshop, Fiske Planetarium, University of Colorado Boulder (2018)

Specialized Skills

• Modeling and Simulation
  • Global Atmospheric Models: Mass Spectrometer and Incoherent Scatter Extended Model (MSIS), Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIE-GCM)
  • Orbit Propagation: Simplified General Perturbations (SGP4), Systems Tool Kit (STK), General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT)
  • Gas-Surface Interactions and Aerodynamics: Sentman, Schamberg, Goodman, DRIA, Langmuir, Cercignani-Lampis-Lord
• Datasets: Two-Line-Element orbital tracking data, GRACE Level 1B accelerometer data, CHAMP and GRACE density datasets, Planetary Kp and Ap geomagnetic indices, F10.7 index, Dst index, Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) SWEPAM and MAG solar wind data, GPS energetic particle data
• Programming
  • Languages: Python, MATLAB, R, Unix, IDL, D3 Javascript, HTML
  • Software and Applications: Git, Jupyter Notebook, Observable Notebook, Google Colab
• Statistics and Analysis: Monte Carlo methods (DSMC), Bayesian vs. Frequentist approaches, Data Assimilation, Kalman Filter, Variational (least-squares) Estimation, Clustering, Linear and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis, Principal Component Analysis

Supercomputing Allocations

• Project Lead of Cheyenne Supercomputer Allocation, National Center for Atmospheric Research (2018-2020)
  • Title: UCUB0065: The Effect of Helium on Low Earth Orbit Atmospheric Drag in the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamic General Circulation Model
  • Allocated 50000 CPU-hours on Cheyenne
  • Allocated 5000 CPU-hours on Geyser & Caldera

Membership

• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (2020-present)
• American Geophysical Union (2016-present)
• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society (2017-present)
• Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society (2015-present)