My junior year in high school I took a physics class and knew then that I wanted to continue studying physics in college. The following summer I was enrolled at a summer studies program taking astronomy for five weeks and decided that I wanted to concentrate on astronomy and astrophysics.

After my freshman year at RPI, I had already taken Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics with Professor Newberg and had familiarized myself with the some of the research that she was currently involved with. I saw the Accelerated B.S./Ph.D. Program as a way to get the advanced degree that I wanted quickly, while having the opportunity to work alongside Professor Newberg.

Since starting the program I have joined Professor Heidi Newberg’s research group. The main focus of the group is the study of tidal streams around the Milky Way (such as the tidal stream caused by the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy), which helps create better models of the structure of the Milky Way and in turn hopefully lead to a better understanding of dark energy/matter.

Other than my course work I am an active member of the Society of Physics Students and the Rensselaer Astrophysical Society as well as involved with the Pep Band and chess club. In my spare time I enjoy playing video games and hanging out with friends.