The IceCube Neutrino Observatory has observed high-energy neutrinos produced in some of the most violent processes in the Universe. But despite of more than a decade of observations only a few neutrino sources have been identified. Identifying these sources presents an unprecedented opportunity to study neutrinos. My proposal aims to exploit the fact that neutrinos … Continued
My research lies at the intersection of astrophysics and software engineering. As an astrophysicist, I study how galaxies evolve; in particular, I investigate how supernova explosions and other energetic phenomena blow gas out of star-forming galaxies (like our own Milky Way), affecting the rate at which those galaxies form new stars and build up mass … Continued
Since 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) has detected nearly 100 gravitational waves from merging black holes across the Universe. But despite this wealth of new astronomical data and the enormous questions it can answer (How fast is the universe expanding? What is dark matter? How are stars and galaxies made over cosmic time?), … Continued
Astronomical surveys which repeatedly image the sky have revealed that our universe is full of cosmic transients, or sources that change in brightness over time. As a Packard Fellow, I will identify the origins of a mysterious and prolific class of intense, millisecond transients: Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). Taking advantage of newly-commissioned FRB experiments that … Continued
Magnetized turbulence is the cornerstone of astrophysical fluid dynamics and related processes such as star formation, cosmic ray propagation, accretion disk physics, and the structure of the interstellar medium. Richard Feynman aptly described turbulence as “the most important unsolved problem in classical physics” and I pursue solutions using statistical comparisons between observations and numerical simulations, … Continued
Cosmic acceleration is one of the most surprising cosmological discovery in decades, as it lies outside the standard model of physics. It could be caused by repulsive vacuum energy, it could be driven by a more dynamical form of dark energy with exotic physical properties, or it could reflect a breakdown of general relativity on … Continued
My proposed research reveals a transformative picture of how supermassive black holes form in galaxies, and how a black hole’s formation in turn affects its host galaxy. This approach resolves the most critical, missing pieces in understanding galaxy and black hole assembly, and at the same time improves the science return from current and future … Continued
Planets form from the cold molecular disks surrounding Myr-old stars. These stars are energetically active in their youth, emitting high fluxes of UV and X-ray photons along with energetic particles. Nearby stars in the cluster may also provide external UV, enhanced cosmic rays, and radioactive pollutants. These energetic processes shape how planets form and their … Continued
Currently, the Earth is the only planet known to harbor life. My group will advance the search for life on other planets and launch the new field of comprehensive planetary habitability by pursuing three key research goals. First, we will identify nearby planets by searching data from the recently launched Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. Second, … Continued
Our best end-to-end test of cosmology, comparing my team’s measured size of the universe today to the predicted size of the universe today using early-universe measurements and our standard model of cosmology, fails. This failure may be a sign that we are on the brink of the biggest discovery in cosmology in the last twenty … Continued