Date of Birth: 15th January 1975
Citizenship: British

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M.S. Astronomy and Astrophysics
University of California, Los Angeles

B.Sc., Physics with Astrophysics
University of Leicester, England

Research Assistant
Supervisor: Dr. Andrea Ghez
Multiplicity Survey of the L1641N star forming region in Orion
Reduced and analyzed 2.2 micron speckle interferometry data on young stars in the L1641N cloud in Orion, taken with the NIRC camera on the Keck 10-m telescope. Results from previous multiplicity surveys of open clusters suggest that Orion should have a multiplicity between that of the solar neighborhood and the nearby star forming regions of Taurus and Ophiuchus. Approximately 20% of the sample in L1641N have been observed so far, with an observed multiplicity consistent with that of the solar neighborhood. More observations are planned to increase the statistical significance of this work.

High Resolution Proper Motion Study of the central parsec of the Galactic Center
Assisted the 2.2 micron speckle observations of the central 5 arcsecs of the Galactic Center, using NIRC on the Keck 10-m telescope. Three epochs of observations were reduced and combined using the Shift-And-Add speckle technique, allowing diffraction-limited images. Two known water masers in the region were observed to register the near-infrared speckle data with the published radio observations from which the position of Sgr A*, the radio source believed to be a supermassive black hole, was determined.

Undergraduate Research
Advisor: Dr. R.F. Jameson
The search for a Luminosity-Period Relation for M Supergiants
Observed 8 SRVc Supergiants (Semi-Red Variables, type c) in the h and chi Persei double cluster, in the V,R and I bands using Leicester's 24'' telescope, as part of a long term monitoring program on these objects to investigate a possible Period-Luminosity relation for these long period (P~800 days) objects. Wrote a FORTRAN program to handle the data input/output and analysis.

Teaching Assistant
Taught discussion sections for introductory Astronomy courses at UCLA. Responsible for explaining lecture material, preparing and grading exams and providing individual instruction. Also hosted the UCLA Observatory open house and held Planetarium shows to both students and members of the public.

Instructor at the Young Engineering and Science Scholars (YESS) Program, Caltech
Supervisor: Dr. Paul A. Robinson, Jr.
Responsible for creating and teaching an engineering curriculum for the YESS program held at Caltech, which is designed to provide an opportunity for bright high school students from low-income neighborhoods to experience science and engineering research. Highlighting problem solving skills, teamwork and environmental awareness, the students in my class successfully designed and built an air quality tester that could be flown from a weather balloon.