I am an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Michigan.
I search for transiting secondary companions to substellar worlds using JWST with Mary Anne Limbach.
As an undergraduate, I investigated lithium enrichment in stars as evidence of planetary engulfment and contributed to GOES-R solar flare detection algorithms.
In addition to my research, I work as a planetarium operator at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History and organize Astronomy on Tap-Ann Arbor.
Research
Discovering Transiting Satellites with JWST
I search for transiting companions to substellar objects, which includes transiting exomoons orbiting planets (both bound and free-floating).
Infrared monitoring of planets with JWST provides an opportunity to search for transits directly in planetary spectrophotometric light curves, avoiding the complex methods required to disentangle planet and moon signals from variable stellar light curves.
A detection of the first satellite moon, in addition to realizing the prevalence of exomoons, will enhance our understanding of the formation and evolution of these worlds and could enable us to explore if these environments are capable of supporting life.
Companion vs. host mass for the known exoplanet population and solar system moons. Overlays sensitivity of several past, ongoing, and upcoming surveys for companions to the substellar hosts.
Adapted from Limbach et al. (2024), arXiv link.
A full list of publications I have been involved in can be found on NASA ADS.
Outreach
UMMNH Planetarium Operator
I am a planetarium operator at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. I enjoy giving live shows where I cover constellations, planets, and anything I decide is interesting.
As we enter the peak of solar cycle 25, my shows have been centered on the aurora borealis. You can purchase tickets to our planetarium shows on the UMMNH website.
Astronomy on Tap - Ann Arbor
I led the effort to relaunch Ann Arbor's Astronomy on Tap event in September 2025. We host regular events
the third Tuesday of the month; see up to date information on Facebook and our website. Come join us!
