"Stellar Mortician"
The Young Supernova Experiment (YSE)
I am a member of the YSE (Young Supernova Experiment), which utilizes large surveys' consistent stream of photometry to catch extremely young supernovae as they happen in real time. Often we combine this knowledge with spectroscopy to identify transients, we perform a multi-wavelength follow-up to tell the story of truly outstanding events. (ADS link)
Thorne-Zytkow Objects
Another fun project I've been working is finding TZOs: Thorne-Zytkow Objects. These strange beasts are quite literally a red supergiant star with a neutron star core. As you can imagine, to our eyes they may easily masquerade as simple red supergiants, but to a gravitational wave detector, these would look like neutron stars! (ADS link)
To learn even more, you can explore my AAS Poster here!!!
Research
I've earned the nickname "Stellar Mortician" for my love of dead stars and the way I piece together their exact processes at the end of their lives. I find it fascinating that gravity, something we take for granted every day, creates awe-inspiring behemoths like black holes and neutron stars, in the matter of an instant!
Protecting the Night Sky
What would all our knowledge be for if we couldn't look up and find our place in it? I have made incredible friends through the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) who ask the same question, and work to keep the stars in the sky visible. You can join too! We are all over the world, and always have stunning pictures to share.
I work specifically in the Chicago chapter coming up with fun series for our website, and with the Adler Planetarium to map light pollution. Come hang out and see what you can do!
Mass Loss in Hydrogen-Stripped SNe
I work with my advisor, Raffaella Margutti, to utilize the entire electromagnetic spectrum towards this end. I study spectra, photometry, X-ray, and radio data. Currently, I use the software I have written to model synchrotron radiation (radio) and Free-Free Absorption (Bremsstrahlung) radiation (radio and X-ray) of SNe Ibc/IIb shock waves.
These shocks probe the outer environment of the star, and tell us vital information about how much mass a star lost before it died. We still don't understand exactly how stars lose mass... a piece of the explosion-puzzle I am putting together! (ADS link... but a more fun poster here.)
Multimessenger Binary White Dwarf Systems
When LISA (the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) launches in the next decade, we will see MANY gravitational waves from Milky Way objects... almost like walking into a crowded party full of cosmic chatter and laughter!
My research with my advisor Shane Larson is to identify the loudest members of the party (there are thousands!) and maximize the science that can be learned from listening to them. I use simulated Milky Way galaxies to glean what electromagnetic astronomers and gravitational wave astronomers can accomplish when they put their unique perspectives together.