I'm a scientist based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. I am lead the TESS Science Support Center, and am TESS Associate Project Scientist. My primary scientific interests lie in the analysis of data from space and ground-based telescopes to infer properties of exoplanets and their host stars. This has led to a number of major discoveries including the detection of the smallest known planet, the detection of the first super-Earth-sized planet orbiting in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star, and the detection of the first Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone of another star.
After my graduate studies, I worked within the Kepler Guest Observer Office at NASA Ames Research Center, California as a research scientist. In 2014 I was promoted to Director of the Kepler/K2 Guest Observer Office. I led a team responsible for developing proposal calls, organizing proposal reviews, providing critical support to the scientific community and developing analysis software for Kepler and K2. I was part of the small team that pioneered the K2 mission, utilizing the Kepler spacecraft after the loss of fine pointing control. I served on the science and mission leadership teams for K2. In 2017 I moved to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland to work on the TESS mission. I initially, served as Deputy Director and then Director of the TESS Guest Investigator Program, and as Associate Project Scientist. I am a member of the Exoplanet Exploration Program Executive Committee.
I have worked NASA flight projects since 2011, including pre- and post-launch operations. While based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, I work for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Time Domain Science
I use time-series data from space to learn things about stars, planets and galaxies. I focusing on the discovery and characterization of exoplanet but have also studied stellar oscillations, and galactic transients.
Statistical Methods
I apply novel statistical techniques to data-based problems in astrophysics. Mostly this involves using tools like Gaussian Processes and Markov Chain Monte Carlo.
Planet Formation
I use N-body simulations to model the formation and evolution of rocky planets, measure impact rates, and track water delivery. Our Solar System formed one temperate planet that has long-lived oceans. Why did this happen, and are we an anomaly?
Stellar Activity
I lead a large multiwavelength project to measure the rate and energies of stellar flares with data spanning radio to X-ray. The goal is to determine whether planets around cool stars are good places to search for life
3/2017
-
Present
Research Scientist
UMBC,
NASA/GSFC
3/2011
-
3/2017
Research Scientist
BAER Inst.,
NASA Ames Research Center
Ph.D Astrophysics, University College London, UK (2011)
ASD Peer Award (2019)
NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal (2017)
I'm a scientist based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. I am lead the TESS Science Support Center, and am TESS Associate Project Scientist. My primary scientific interests lie in the analysis of data from space and ground-based telescopes to infer properties of exoplanets and their host stars. This has led to a number of major discoveries including the detection of the smallest known planet, the detection of the first super-Earth-sized planet orbiting in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star, and the detection of the first Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone of another star.
After my graduate studies, I worked within the Kepler Guest Observer Office at NASA Ames Research Center, California as a research scientist. In 2014 I was promoted to Director of the Kepler/K2 Guest Observer Office. I led a team responsible for developing proposal calls, organizing proposal reviews, providing critical support to the scientific community and developing analysis software for Kepler and K2. I was part of the small team that pioneered the K2 mission, utilizing the Kepler spacecraft after the loss of fine pointing control. I served on the science and mission leadership teams for K2. In 2017 I moved to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland to work on the TESS mission. I initially, served as Deputy Director and then Director of the TESS Guest Investigator Program, and as Associate Project Scientist. I am a member of the Exoplanet Exploration Program Executive Committee.
I have worked NASA flight projects since 2011, including pre- and post-launch operations. While based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, I work for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
