I am the Instrument Scientist for the Imaging Sciences Laboratory which is part of the Department of Astronomy at The Ohio State University. Prior to this, I was an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Notre Dame. In both positions, my work has focused on the design, development and construction of the iLocater instrument. iLocater is a next generation instrument under development for the Large Binocular Telescope, Arizona, USA. Once installed, it will search for Earth like planets around other stars in the sky. You can find out more about this work on my research page.
I completed my Ph.D. at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK where I worked on the Adaptive Optics Lucky Imager (AOLI) instrument. This instrument corrects for the effects of the atmosphere when using ground based telescopes to provide high-resolution imaging at optical wavelengths. My work was focused particularly on the adaptive optics component of the instrument and specifically on the non-linear Curvature Wavefront sensor.
In addition to my research, I lead programs and efforts to increase public engagement with science while supporting strategies to increase diversity and retention of under-represented groups within the physical sciences. Whether presenting to school groups, doing demonstrations of physics phenomena, undertaking planetarium shows and stargazing, giving lectures on astronomy or supporting student research, I want to open up Physics and Astronomy to as wide a demographic of people as possible. You can find out more about these programs and efforts on my outreach page.
Career
2022 - Present: Instrument Scientist, Department of Astronomy, The Ohio State University, USA
2022 - Present: Adjunct Research Professor, University of Notre Dame, USA
2017 - 2022: Assistant Research Professor, University of Notre Dame, USA
2014 - 2017: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Notre Dame, USA
2010 - 2014: Graduate student, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK
2006 - 2010: Undergraduate student, University of Manchester, UK (3rd year at University of California Santa Barbara)
Qualifications
Ph.D. in Astronomy, University of Cambridge - 2014
MPhys (1st Class with Honours) - Physics with Astrophysics, University of Manchester - 2010 (3rd year - University of California Santa Barbara, USA)
Professional Service
Reviewer for NASA (2022-)
Member of the NSF/NASA EPRV Working Group (2019-2021)
Reviewer for National Science Foundation (2021-)
Professional Organisations
Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society
Member, American Astronomical Society
Member, SPIE
Member, Institute of Physics
Fellow, Cambridge Philosophical Society