University of Washington

ASTRONOMY DEPARTMENT

Bellovary, Jillian	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS University of Wisconsin-Madison 2001 Joined Dept in 2004 Office: B323 Phone: 543-6554 Email: jillian Web Page	I work with Fabio Governato in the N-body shop, implementing supermassive black hole feedback into cosmological simulations. I hope to simulate the observed "red and dead" galaxies we see at z~2.
Bochanski, John	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS Villanova University 2002 Joined Dept in 2002 Office: B325 Phone: 616-1505 Email: bochansk Web Page	My primary research interests focus on low-mass stars. Particularly, my thesis project, led by Dr. Suzanne Hawley and pioneered by Dr. Kevin Covey, employs combined 2MASS-SDSS-GSC colors to determine the mass and luminosity functions of stars less than about 0.8 solar masses. Additionally, I have been part of a team that has mined the SDSS spectroscopic database for low-mass stellar spectra, using this information to measure activity levels and kinematics. When I'm not working on dim, red stars, I am involved with the time domain group, led by Dr. Andrew Becker. We are involved in multiple time domain projects, such as examining flare statistics and discovering new eclipsing binaries. Additionally, I am interested in using large surveys such as LSST to discover new planetary transits.
Brooks, Alyson	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Physics with Astronomy Emphasis, Macalester College 2000 Joined Dept in 2002 Office: B333 Phone: 543-6276 Email: abrooks Web Page	In general, I am interested in galactic structure and galactic chemical evolution. In particular, I am analyzing high resolution cosmological N-body simulations in order to understand the formation and evolution of disk galaxies.
Christensen, Charlotte	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Carleton College 2005 Joined Dept in 2005 Office: B329 Phone: 543-9039 Email: christensen Web Page	I am interested in using computational modeling in most any aspect of astronomy. I am currently working with Tom Quinn and Greg Stinson researching mass loss in dwarf galaxies.
Claire, Mark	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS The Evergreen State College 1997 Joined Dept in 2002 Office: B351 Phone: 616-4549 Email: mclaire	My research interests are in terrestrial planet formation and long-term evolution, especially with respect to planetary atmospheres. Observationally, I am interested in extra-solar planet detection, and look forward to the day when we will obtain spectra of the atmospheres of Earth-like planets. Since that will be a while, I busy myself with attempting to understand how Earth has evolved from its initial chemically reducing state to the highly oxidized environment we live in today. I do this by building computer models of the Earth system, and hope to eventually deduce the remotely observable impacts on the atmosphere if our planet had formed, for example, twice as massive or around a more metal-poor star. I am a member of the Astrobiology Program and work with David Catling in Atmospheric Sciences.
Covarrubias, Ricardo	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS Physics, Universidad Catolica de Chile 1994; MS Astronomy, UW 2002 Joined Dept in 2000 Office: B335 Phone: 543-8989 Email: ricardo Web Page	I'm involved in Photometry and Spectroscopy observations of RR Lyrae stars using the APO 3.5m telescope at New Mexico and 0.76m at MRO from the University of Washington. Our group has created a database cataloging images from LONEOS (Lowell Observatory Near Earth Object Survey), which covers about 35% of the sky with more than 8 epochs down to 19th V magnitude. From this dataset a large number of candidate RR Lyrae stars has been extracted, which is currently the sample with the largest sky coverage in the world. The current focus is on estimating the degree of contamination and on determining the radial velocities. The second project I'm involved in is The Next Generation Microlensing Survey of the LMC, where we want to search for astrophysical dark matter objects (often called MAssive Compact Halo Objects, or MACHOs). The way we do this is searching for the transient brightening of background stars due to the gravitational lensing by foreground MACHOs. We intend to determine the nature of this lensing population, which may outweigh all other known components of the Galaxy. We will do this using the 4m telescope at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory in Chile during 10 nights per month in November, December and January.
Cowan, Nick	Interests
Graduate Assistant BSc McGill University, 2004 Joined Dept in 2004 Office: B325 Phone: 616-1505 Email: cowan Web Page	Extrasolar planet detection and observations (with support from Astrobiology Program). Also enjoy playing in the mountains.
Fraser, Oliver	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS Physics, Harvey Mudd College 1999; MS Astronomy, UW 2002 Joined Dept in 2001 Office: B335 Phone: 543-8989 Email: fraser Web Page	My past projects have involved spectroscopic follow-up of candidate CVs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Currently I'm working with MACHO and 2MASS data to investigate Long Period Variables in the Magellanic Clouds and the Galactic Bulge. We hope to better understand these stars' evolution in these different environments and how this is connected to mass-loss.
Gogarten, Stephanie	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Physics, University of Chicago 2003; MS Astronomy, UW 2005 Joined Dept in 2003 Office: B345 Phone: 543-9373 Email: stephanie Web Page	I am interested in observational studies of the formation and evolution of galaxies. My not-quite-done-yet project is the size-luminosity relation of disk galaxies in clusters using the European Distant Cluster Survery (EDisCS). My thesis project is using resolved stellar populations to uncover the star formation histories of nearby spiral galaxies, as part of the ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury (ANGST).
Haggard, Daryl	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Philosophy and Mathematics, St. John's College 1995; MS Physics, San Francisco State University 2004; MS Astronomy, UW 2005 Joined Dept in 2003 Office: B337 Phone: 543-2922 Email: dhaggard	Daryl's interests include high-energy astrophysics, observational cosmology, accretion phenomena, and gravitational radiation. In particular, she studies quasars, active galactic nuclei (AGN), and compact binaries. Her dissertation work at the University of Washington will focus, in part, on physical interpretation of eigenspectrum decomposition performed on various classes of AGN. Her master's thesis at San Francisco State University focused on identifying cataclysmic variables and other low-X-ray-luminosity sources (quiescent low-mass X-ray binaries, millisecond pulsars, and coronally active main sequence binaries), at X-ray and optical wavelengths in the globular cluster Omega Centauri. Daryl also participates in numerous educational and outreach activities, including the new Pre-Major in Astronomy Program. Before beginning her graduate work, she studied philosophy, taught for a year in China, worked for several years in Silicon Valley and researched solitons in shallow-water ferry wakes.
Hilton, Eric	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS Physics, Carnegie Mellon University 2003 Joined Dept in 2005 Office: B325 Phone: 616-2955 Email: hilton	I work with Suzanne Hawley on determining the flare rate on low mass stars. I'm interested in stellar activity and flare physics.
Kaib, Nathan	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS Physics, Case Western Reserve University 2002 Joined Dept in 2003 Office: B351 Phone: 616-4549 Email: kaib Web Page	My main interests center around solar system dyanamics. Past projects I've worked on have looked at collision statistics during late stage terrestrial planet formation and how these relate to terrestrial moon formation. Currently I'm working on modelling the formation of the Oort Cloud in a typical stellar birthplace environment. This work will also examine how different external gravitational perturbations alter the flux of long-period comets into the inner solar system and what astrobiological implications this may have for life on habitable worlds. I am a member of the Astrobiology Program and work with Tom Quinn in the N-Body Shop.
Kimball, Amy	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS Math and Physics, University of Michigan 2003 Joined Dept in 2003 Office: B345 Phone: 543-9373 Email: akimball	I like computer programming! My dream is to develop complicated codes with applications to Astronomy. A recent project involved classifying RR Lyrae candidate stars via principle component analysis. My current project is to help update radiative transfer code DUSTY, which calculates properties of a spherical dust shell surrounding a star. For my thesis, I will combine several radio catalogues into one monster catalogue, and classify objects within using machine learning. Current language of choice: IDL.
Kowalski, Adam	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA University of Chicago 2006 Joined Dept in 2006 Office: B339 Phone: 543-9095 Email: kowalski Web Page	My research in astronomy began at the University of Toledo during a Summer REU program. Working with Dr. Karen Bjorkman, Dr. Jon Bjorkman, and Dr. John Wisniewski, I studied the infrared spectra of Be stars, which are stars that show emission features suggestive of circumstellar disks. For my Senior Thesis at the University of Chicago, I worked with Dr. Dietrich Müller and the TRACER III team studying the time development of signals in proportional tubes. The proportional tubes were flown in a balloon-borne cosmic ray detector (TRACER III) this past summer. Currently, I am interested in extrasolar planets, M Dwarf flares, and high energy astrophysics.
Kundurthy, Praveen	Interests
Graduate Assistant University of Arizona Joined Dept in 2006 Office: B339 Phone: 543-9095 Email: pkundurthy Web Page	I'm a first year graduate student. I haven't started on research yet, but I'm interested in star and planet formation. I'm also in the UW Astrobiology program. During my undergraduate studies (University of Arizona) I worked on a project trying to understand a trend in the rotational properties of disked and disk-less T Tauri stars. I also worked with the IR Group at the University of Arizona after graduating. I was involved in a project that confirmed the detection of extended Aromatic(PAHs) emission from the starburst galaxy M82 using the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Loebman, Sarah	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Asian Studies, Cornell University 2001 Joined Dept in 2006 Office: B337 Phone: 543-2922 Email: sloebman	Galaxies.
MacLeod, Chelsea	Interests
Graduate Assistant University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Joined Dept in 2006 Office: B333 Phone: 543-6276 Email: cmacleod Web Page	Using Sloan Digital Sky Survey to test things such as: whether or not LISA observations of EMRIs will allow for precision cosmology and whether or not there is a shortage of planetary nebulae in the Milky Way halo.
Plotkin, Richard	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS Physics and Astronomy, University of Michigan 2003 Joined Dept in 2003 Office: B323 Phone: 543-1979 Email: plotkin Web Page	My research interests involve understanding the structure, content and evolution of the universe. I am working with Scott Anderson on the X-ray and optical properties of Active Galactic Nuclei. A couple current projects are 1) studying absorption in the spectra of quasars from intervening gas clouds, and 2) assembling a sample of BL LAC candidates from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
Robinson, Ty	Interests
Graduate Assistant University of Arizona Joined Dept in 2006 Office: B333 Phone: 543-6276 Email: robinson	Ty is in the Astrobiology program and his interests include theory and simulation. He has done some work which relates to measuring atmospheric traits of extrasolar planets. Future projects could include work on planet formation and detections of extrasolar planets.
Roskar, Rok	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Physics and Islamic Studies, Washington University in St. Louis 2003 Joined Dept in 2004 Office: B351 Phone: 616-4549 Email: roskar Web Page	Loose definition of current work is running and analyzing nbody simulations of galaxy formation and evolution, in particular to address the issue of disk breaks in galaxies. At the moment I work with Tom Quinn and Victor Debattista in the N-Body Shop. But, I have not resigned to staring at simmi simmis... I am interested in many aspects of extragalactic astronomy, particularly high-redshift sources and the clues they can give us about early star formation, evolution of structure in the universe, and especially reionization. My true passion in life is gourmet French cooking, but in my spare time I am trying to develop a way to use old sneakers as a renewable energy source.
Schmidt, Sarah	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Barnard College of Columbia University 2006 Joined Dept in 2006 Office: B335 Phone: 543-8989 Email: sjschmidt Web Page	I am still figuring out all my interests. Right now, I am working on activity studies for low mass stars and brown dwarfs.
Sesar, Branimir	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS Physics, University of Zagreb, Croatia 2004 Joined Dept in 2004 Office: B345 Phone: 543-9373 Email: bsesar Web Page	I'm interested in multi-wavelength studies using large sky surveys. I did cross-matching of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data with the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey data to look for variable objects (RR Lyrae, long term QSO variability). Currently I'm working with Zeljko Ivezic on asorted projects involving various surveys, such as GALEX, Spitzer FLS, SDSS, 2MASS etc.
Solontoi, Mike	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Physics, Reed College 2000; MS Astronomy, UW 2004 Joined Dept in 2002 Office: B339 Phone: 543-9095 Email: solontoi Web Page	My main research interests involve killer death rocks from outer space, specifically the dynamical and orbital evolution of said objects. I also take an active role in the history and teaching of astronomy.
Stilp, Adrienne	Interests
Graduate Assistant University of Wisconsin, Madison Joined Dept in 2006 Office: B329 Phone: 543-9039 Email: adrienne Web Page	I'm working on turning the galaxies simulated by the N-body shop into HI observations with Tom & Fabio, and will eventually be working on studying the effects of star formation on surrounding gas using a combination of the simulations, ANGST HST stellar population data, and VLA HI observations.
Stinson, Greg	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Physics, Carleton College 1999 Joined Dept in 2001 Office: B341 Phone: 543-5185 Email: stinson Web Page	Simulations of galaxy formation with a particular focus on how stars exploding as supernovae have a feedback effect on the evolution of the galaxy.
VanderPlas, Jake	Interests
Graduate Assistant BS Physics, Calvin College 2003 Joined Dept in 2006 Office: B337 Phone: 543-2922 Email: vanderplas	Zen and the Art of Telescope Maintenance.
Walkowicz, Lucianne	Interests
Graduate Asstistant BS Physics, Johns Hopkins University 2002 Joined Dept in 2002 Office: B323 Phone: 543-6554 Email: lucianne Web Page	I study the atmospheric structure of very low mass stars through a combination of spectroscopy (taken with the APO 3.5m telescope) and numerical models that apply the physics of stellar atmospheres to try and match the observed spectra. I am also interested in the implications of these complex atmospheric phenomena for habitable planets around very low mass stars.
Yoachim, Peter	Interests
Graduate Assistant BA Astrophysics, UC Berkeley Joined Dept in 2001 Office: B341 Phone: 543-5185 Email: yoachim Web Page	I'm an nth (n=current year-2001) year grad student here at UW. Research wise, I'm interested in doing observational work on cosmology, galaxy formation and evolution. Currently, I am working with Julianne Dalcanton on a sample of edge-on spiral galaxies in order to measure the morphology and kinematics of the galaxies' thick disks. In the distant past, I worked on the SNAP satellite.