We live on a beautiful planet. Its my life goal to find another one just like it. -- AMT
I am working on a number of exoplanet related projects that involve inovative
methods for planet detection and characterization including astrometry, radial velocities, direct imaging, debris disks,
and transit light curves. For instance, I am involved in infrared RV planet search programs to search for gas giants around late-M dwarfs
and young stars. Near-infrared RVs currently represent the only method for searching for gas giant planets around these
types of stars and can tell us how planets are formed. I am leading multiple observational programs to
determine which nearby M dwarfs have astrophysical jitter at a level that will could prevent the detection of terrestrial planets.
Finally, I am leading programs to determine the metallicity and debris disk fraction of the nearest M dwarfs which could be used
to further optimize planet search programs. Considering the
potential scientific impact of the detection of Earth-mass planets in our local neighborhood as well as the amount of
observing time being devoted to this goal, it is critical that we know as much as possible about exoplanet target stars. My ultimate scientific goal
is to detect and study the atmosphere of a transiting terrestrial planet and search for signs of life!
Exoplanet Research Programs
Determination of the photometric variability, metallicity and infrared excess of all stars within 25 pc
- I have a number of on-going observational programs to compile robust metallicities, rotation periods
and infrared excess statistics on M dwarfs within 25 pc.
WFIRST Science Definition Team
- I have been selected to aid in guiding NASA on the development of WFIRST for detecting planets via microlensing with wide field near-infrared photometry
NIRSPEC Infrared Radial Velocity Measurements of late-M dwarfs and Young stars
- We are using telluric calbirated RV measurements with the NIRSPEC echelle instrument on Keck to search for giant planets around late-type M dwarfs and young stars.
High Contrast Image Archive for Exoplanet Studies
- I am leading an effort to create a high contrast imaging archive to aid future direct iimaging programs and determine the sub-stellar multiplicity fractions for nearby stars I am the PI of a SIM Science Study
- I am investigating whether we will be able to detect terrestrial mass planets with radial velocity measurements vs. micro-arcsecond astrometry. Mid-infrared Detections of Debris Disks
- I have completed a survey of nearby stars at 160 microns and will extend the survey to observe a large sample of nearby M dwarfs
