Exploring the universe through equations, stories, color, and conviction.
Exploring the universe through equations, stories, color, and conviction.
I challenge myself and others to reject the archaic “left-brained” vs “right-brained” dichotomy. Embrace both! Who says you can only be one thing? Personally, I get as excited about data structures and physics research as I do about art, storytelling, and my hundredth rewatch of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
An artsy extrovert with a scientific mind, I try to spark curiosity, challenge assumptions, and celebrate the beauty of complexity wherever I can.
Take a closer look at the projects, research, and creative problem-solving that define my approach as a scientist and innovator.
My portfolio showcases selected work across atmospheric physics and space weather research with data-driven analysis, highlighting how I turn complex challenges into clear, actionable results.
Finding patterns that others might miss. Asking new questions, and imagining better ways to model the unpredictable.
I believe that both analytical and creative thinking are vital to scientific discovery because science thrives on curiosity, experimentation, and a little imagination.
I enjoy making hard science understandable—from atmospheric physics to space weather modeling. Below is a summary of my work and the overarching story that connects my scientific research.
Want to dive into specific projects or see the full depth of my work? Visit my portfolio for more.
Tracking the invisible storms that threaten the Earth’s neighborhood.
One of my favorite projects has been predicting solar particle events—great explosions on the Sun’s surface that accelerate highly charged particles into space and, sometimes, toward Earth. Often referred to as “solar storms” and described in weather-like terms, these phenomena are part of what scientists call space weather, the study of the radiation environment near Earth and its impact on human activities and technology. Space weather matters because radiation from space can greatly impact satellites, spacecraft, and even power grids. Planning a mission to Mars? You'll need to know how much radiation you'll encounter, first.
I spend my days developing advanced computer models and algorithms to study solar energetic particles, galactic cosmic rays, and trapped radiation. Wait, what are all those big terms? Solar energetic particles are super-fast, high-energy particles that burst out from the Sun during big explosions like solar flares. Galactic cosmic rays are tiny, supercharged particles that come from exploding stars far outside our solar system and travel across the galaxy (a loooong journey just to see you! And mess up your electronic devices.) Then, trapped radiation is made up of high-energy particles caught by Earth’s magnetic field, forming invisible belts (called the Van Allen belts) that circle the planet.
Honestly, I see chaotic datasets the way Marie Kondo sees cluttered closets: I don't just tolerate the mess, I love it. Because it means I get to transform the data into something meaningful. Cleaning it up, building clear and structured databases, analyzing it all. There's something deeply satisfying about knowing the data backwards and forwards. I love the whole process!