I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), working with Professor Yue Shen. The main focus of my research is active galactic nuclei (AGN). Currently, I am using images from the Hubble Space Telescope to analyze host-galaxy properties of associated absorption quasars.

I received my Ph.D. from the University of California–Irvine, where I worked with Professor Aaron Barth. My thesis focused on using AGN flux variability to measure their black hole masses and study the broad-line emitting region surrounding the black holes. I am also interested in automating pipelines to more efficiently mine large survey datasets for interesting AGN science.

Since my participation in the 2016 Congressional Visit Day hosted by the American Astronomical Society, where I helped to advocate for science funding on Capitol Hill, I have become very interested in science policy and the broader impact of science on our society. I am especially interested in improving the accuracy and effectiveness with which scientific information is communicated to the general public. I am also passionate about promoting diversity in STEM fields, and especially in helping young women overcome the cultural barriers that discourage them from pursuing careers in STEM.

I am currently a member of the UIUC Women in Astronomy group. Previously at UCI, I was actively involved in various campus organizations, including the graduate student government, the physics graduate student organization, and a club in the Physics & Astronomy Department that advocates for women in STEM. (See the Advocacy & Outreach section for a full list of my various roles in these organizations.)