Probing the extreme edges of the Universe.
I use space- and Earth-based telescopes to study black holes and exploding stars. My research has contributed to the first images of black hole shadows and uncovered new clues to how massive stars die.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
Co-recipient of the 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
Co-recipient of the 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
Co-recipient of the 2020 Breakthrough Prize
Co-recipient of the 2020 Breakthrough Prize
Winner of the 2021 LeRoy Apker Award
Winner of the 2021 LeRoy Apker Award
The first images of a black hole
As a collaborator on the Event Horizon Telescope project, I helped take the first image of a black hole. I work primarily on imaging (turning the data we collect from observations into images), modeling (making assumptions about the form of the data and finding models that best fit it), and theory (developing the physics behind our understanding of the shadow of a black hole).
I was a key contributor to the second image of a black hole--the first image of the supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way. I led one of the 10 papers published as part of the results package on May 12, 2022, establishing a new method for obtaining high-frame-rate movies of Sgr A*.
Viewed by
4.5 billion people
Resolution
20 μas
The first images of a black hole
As a member of the EHT Collaboration, I was a key contributor to the first and second images of a black hole.
Viewed by
>4 billion people
Resolution
20 μas
The first images of a black hole
As a collaborator on the Event Horizon Telescope project, I helped take the first image of a black hole. I work primarily on imaging (turning the data we collect from observations into images), modeling (making assumptions about the form of the data and finding models that best fit it), and theory (developing the physics behind our understanding of the shadow of a black hole).
I was a key contributor to the second image of a black hole--the first image of the supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way. I led one of the 10 papers published as part of the results package on May 12, 2022, establishing a new method for obtaining high-frame-rate movies of Sgr A*.
Viewed by
4.5 billion people
Resolution
20 μas
The deaths of massive stars
Type IIb supernovae are the result of a core-collapse explosion of a massive star that has shed almost all of its hydrogen envelope. The mechanism by which the hydrogen envelope is shed is not well-understood and could be explained by several different channels (e.g., stellar wind, binary stripping, precursor eruption], etc.) which are challenging to constrain observationally. Understanding this mass-loss mechanism is a crucial topic of interest. By combining early-time observations with shock cooling models and optical follow-up from global telescope networks, I’ve helped constrain the mass loss mechanisms and ejecta properties of these transitional core-collapse events.
Explosion energy
1e51 ergs
Shock velocity
40 million mph
The deaths of massive stars
Type IIb supernovae are the result of a core-collapse explosion of a massive star that has shed almost all of its hydrogen envelope. By combining early-time observations with shock cooling models and optical follow-up from global telescope networks, I’ve helped constrain the mass loss mechanisms and ejecta properties of these transitional core-collapse events.
Explosion energy
1e51 ergs
Shock velocity
40 million mph
The deaths of massive stars
Type IIb supernovae are the result of a core-collapse explosion of a massive star that has shed almost all of its hydrogen envelope. The mechanism by which the hydrogen envelope is shed is not well-understood and could be explained by several different channels (e.g., stellar wind, binary stripping, precursor eruption], etc.) which are challenging to constrain observationally. Understanding this mass-loss mechanism is a crucial topic of interest. By combining early-time observations with shock cooling models and optical follow-up from global telescope networks, I’ve helped constrain the mass loss mechanisms and ejecta properties of these transitional core-collapse events.
Explosion energy
1e51 ergs
Shock velocity
40 million mph
The Black Hole Explorer
The Black Hole Explorer (BHEX) is a next-generation space VLBI mission designed to image black holes with unprecedented resolution by extending the Event Horizon Telescope into orbit. I contribute to the development of BHEX by designing analytic and deep learning techniques to extract physical parameters from photon ring structure in the visibility domain. My work focuses on leveraging the n=1 photon subring, a subtle yet powerful signature in interferometric data, to enable precision tests of strong gravity. I have led efforts to simulate BHEX observations, develop parameter inference pipelines, and produce some of the first machine learning–driven measurements of black hole spin from synthetic BHEX datasets.
Baseline length
20,000 km
Launch date
2033
The Black Hole Explorer
I contribute to the development of BHEX by designing analytic and deep learning techniques to extract physical parameters from photon ring structure in the visibility domain.
Baseline length
20,000 km
Launch date
2033
The Black Hole Explorer
The Black Hole Explorer (BHEX) is a next-generation space VLBI mission designed to image black holes with unprecedented resolution by extending the Event Horizon Telescope into orbit. I contribute to the development of BHEX by designing analytic and deep learning techniques to extract physical parameters from photon ring structure in the visibility domain. My work focuses on leveraging the n=1 photon subring, a subtle yet powerful signature in interferometric data, to enable precision tests of strong gravity. I have led efforts to simulate BHEX observations, develop parameter inference pipelines, and produce some of the first machine learning–driven measurements of black hole spin from synthetic BHEX datasets.
Baseline length
20,000 km
Launch date
2033
My ultimate goal is to characterize the strangest objects in the Universe, from supernovae to black holes. As a member of the Global Supernova Project, I will apply the methods we've developed for Type IIb supernovae to data from the upcoming Rubin observatory. As a member of BHEX, I will continue developing the science case for the spacecraft and refine methods to convert observations into detections and measurements of the elusive photon ring.
My ultimate goal is to characterize the strangest objects in the Universe, from supernovae to black holes. As a member of the Global Supernova Project, I will apply the methods we've developed for Type IIb supernovae to data from the upcoming Rubin observatory. As a member of BHEX, I will continue developing the science case for the spacecraft and refine methods to convert observations into detections and measurements of the elusive photon ring.
Experience
Experience
National Science Foundation Fellow
National Science Foundation Fellow
Las Cumbres Observatory
Las Cumbres Observatory
Sep 2021 - Present
Sep 2021 - Present
Smithsonian Fellow
Smithsonian Fellow
Harvard-Smithsonian CfA
Harvard-Smithsonian CfA
Harvard-Smithsonian CfA
March 2018 - August 2021
March 2018 - August 2021
Oracle Fellow
Oracle Fellow
Oracle Fellow
UMass Boston
UMass Boston
UMass Boston
Jan 2017 - Nov 2019
Jan 2017 - Nov 2019
Research Intern
Research Intern
Research Intern
Harvard LPPC
Harvard LPPC
Harvard LPPC
July 2017 - March 2018
July 2017 - March 2018