Physics PhD Candidate (MIT)
MSc Space Science and Technology, Mitchell Scholar/Matt Fellow, (UCD)
BA Astrophysics/Mathematics, Science Research Fellow (Columbia)
Education
Barish-Weiss Fellow; Henry W Kendall Fellow, MIT, Cambridge, MA.
Ph.D. Candidate in Physics, MIT Physics Dept. Astrophysics Division (2023-present)
Mitchell Scholar ’23, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Masters of Science in Space Science and Technology, UCD Physics (2022-23)
Thesis (embargoed): “Payloads Safety Review and Approval Process for Sierra Space Pathfinder Space Station Program”
Science Research Fellow ’22, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Bachelor of Arts in Astrophysics, Concentration in Mathematics, Dean’s List Honors (2018-2022)
Honors
Barish-Weiss Fellow (2023) – MIT graduate astrophysics fellowship
Henry W Kendall Fellow (2023) – MIT graduate physics fellowship
Matthew Isakowitz Fellow (2023) – Matthew Isakowitz Commercial space sector internship and mentorship
Mitchell Scholar (2022) – US-Ireland Alliance National scholarship supporting postgraduate studies in Ireland
20 Twenties Laureate (2021) – Aviation Week Network’s top 20 aerospace young professionals
Science Research Fellow (2018-2022) – Columbia University four-year research fellowship for top science students
First Place Student Research Paper (2021) – AIAA SciTech Conference first place paper for astronaut tool designed for ISS and testing at NASA NBL
Awarded Facilities and Resources
NICER (Cycle 8)
(2026)
Principal Investigator of archival data analysis program “Constraining Black Hole Accretion Physics in LMC X-3 with NICER Archival Observations”
IXPE (Cycle 3)
(2026)
Principal Investigator of 1.4 Ms observation program “Energy-Dependent Polarization Rotation: Testing General Relativistic Disk Models with IXPE”
NASA SPOCS, >$100,000
(2020)
Principal Investigator of 1.5U payload experiment awarded 30 days’ time on International Space Station, fully funded launch and return from Kennedy Space Center (SpaceX CRS-24), and $20,000 R&D grant.
Research Experience
Graduate Research Fellow, MIT Polarimetry Lab
(August 2023-Present)
Studying structure and geometry of black holes and neutron stars using X-ray polarimetry from IXPE telescope and X-ray spectroscopy from telescopes such as NuSTAR and NICER. Develop and test flight hardware for REDSoX (NASA soft X-ray polarimetry mission).
Principal Investigator, NASA SPOCS Mission, Johnson Space Center
(March 2020 – May 2022)
Led team of 20 in the design, construction, and testing of 1.5 U payload experiment Characterizing Antibiotic Resistance in Microgravity Environments (CARMEn), flown on SpaceX CRS-24 mission to ISS for a 30-day mission from December 2021 to January 2022.
Mission Director, NASA Micro-g NExT, Columbia Space Initiative
(August 2018 – May 2020)
Led a team of 6 in the design and construction of astronaut tools including a lunar sample coring device for the Artemis Mission and sharp-edge detection and removal tool for the International Space Station tested at NASA’s NBL.
Research Fellow, Center of Computational Astrophysics
(June 2019 – August 2020)
Create data-driven models of MaNGA galaxies using Milky-Way stellar spectra under Dr. Melissa Ness. Presented research poster at LSST 2019 community workshop.
QuarkNet Research Fellow, Southern Methodist University
(June 2017 – August 2027)
Constructed prototype multi-wire proportional chamber detecting cosmic muons for the ATLAS experiment at CERN under Dr. Jingbo Ye.
Professional Experience
Payloads Safety Engineer, Sierra Space, Broomfield, CO
(June 2023 – August 2023)
Developed commercial payloads safety process for Pathfinder space station program that increases payload throughput by 46%, reduces approval time to 1/4 of current processes, and improves major areas of user experience. Matthew Isakowitz Fellow.
Resident Advisor, Columbia University, New York, NY
(August 2019 – May 2020)
Oversaw 2 floors and 40 undergraduate residents, organizing 30+ community events, solving resident issues, and designing monthly bulletin boards educating residents on diversity and health issues. Served as hall council treasurer and advising liaison managing budget of $2,000 for residence hall events, facilities maintenance, and student advocacy. Inducted into National Residence Halls Honorary (NRHH) King’s Crown Chapter.
Academic Service
Peer Reviewer, ApJ
(2025-Present)
Referee for the Astrophysical Journal
GAGA Co-Chair, MIT Dept. of Physics, Cambridge, MA
(2025 -Present)
Serve as Graduates Advising Graduate Admissions (GAGA) co-chair, facilitating fair and equitable admissions practices for ~200 students by hosting admissions webinars, organizing graduate application mentorship programs, and advising the graduate admissions chair on application review procedures.
PGSC Vice President of Admissions, MIT Dept. of Physics, Cambridge, MA
(August 2024-Present)
Serve as Physics Graduate Student Council (PGSC) Vice President of Admissions planning graduate open-house events.
Community Service
PhysGAAP Mentor, MIT Dept. of Physics, Cambridge, MA
(2023 – Present)
Advise ~2 MIT physics PhD applicants per year from underrepresented backgrounds on steps to completing an application and finding success in graduate school.
Volunteer, Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth, New York, NY
(2018 – 2022)
Developed and oversaw a semester-long ISS citizen science project for 150 underserved middle school students. Created & taught 5-week space science and engineering curriculum in Middle School MS302 Spring 2022. Organized culminating “Spaceposium” poster symposium for 150 middle school citizen scientists to present posters at Columbia University’s historic Low Library to Columbia faculty, students, and staff. Served as astronomy camp counselor for 200 middle school students at Camp Zeke in August 2022.
Volunteer Elementary School Teacher, Reading Team Math, New York, NY
(2019 – 2022)
Taught weekly class to 20 first-grade students in Central Harlem using self-designed curricula and 1:1 tutoring.
Volunteer, Columbia Public Health, New York, NY
(2020 – 2021)
A Friend for Rachel Experiential Learning Project. Help people with early-moderate stage dementia to stay active, be involved in meaningful activity, develop new relationships, and avoid isolation through weekly zoom meetings.
Volunteer, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY
(2019 – 2020)
Performed multicomponent nonpharmacological psychiatric interventions and evaluations, engaging with patients in medical and intensive care units through the Department of Psychiatry’s Hospital Delirium Program.
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