NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellows

My research interests focus on computing the evolution of relativistic matter configurations, which include compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes, as well as those processes which form them. Mergers of compact objects are expected to be important sources for the gravity wave interferometers like LIGO and the others now in operation worldwide. My past work has focused primarily on binary neutron star mergers, but we are now in a position to study the merger of binaries containing black holes, which can be seen at greater cosmic distances.

For the past several years I have been active in making three dimensional visualizations of hydro calculations, which can be converted into easily understood movies appropriate for a general audience. These animations have been placed on the internet, for the use of the the academic community, and have been featured at exhibits at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago as well as the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

I am also involved in several projects that seek to educate younger children about astronomy. I have led workshops on small telescope building with elementary school science clubs and summer camps, and am collaborating on a project to study effective techniques for elementary school science pedagogy among student teachers.