Research Interests
I am intersted in studying the lunar topography and how it affects the radiation dosage recieved at the surface.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Currently I am studying the lunar topography and how it can be used to shield astronauts during exlporation of the Moons. The next phase of exploration is the Artemis missions to return humans to the Moon. I am studying how radiation, which is a major hazard in space, varies over the surface of the Moon in regions where the Artemis missions will take place.

I am interested in studying the Giant Planets of our Solar System (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune).

Io Plasma Torus

I study the Io Plasma Torus (shown to the left) around Jupiter in collaboration with Professor Paul Withers. The plasma torus is created by the stripping of molecules and atoms from Io at a rate of 1 ton/sec that are then ionized through collisions with other atoms/molecules or photons. These ionized particles become trapped by Jupiter's magnetic field and form a torus near Io's orbit.

Outer Planetary Aurora

During the summer of 2014 I worked with Professor John Clarke studing Jupiter's aurora using Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Ultraviolet(UV) images from the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). I studied a Color Ratio which is the ratio of a bandpass of hydrocarbon (methane) absorption to one of little or no absorption. From this ratio I will be able to study particle acceleration mechanics and auroral energy input into the planet's atmosphere. This image to the left shows the aurora of Jupiter (left) and Saturn (right) taken with the ACS instrument during the 2007 and 2008 aurora campaign. More information about the campaign can be found by clicking the image.