Constraining black hole spin on all mass scales.
The relationship between accretion and outflows in compact objects.
Angular momentum and energy transport in AGN and their role in galaxy evolution.
Complex absorption from outflows in AGN and their influence on the structure and geometry of the nucleus.
Probing gravitation in the strong-field limit.
University of Maryland | College Park, MD | 2002-2007
Ph.D., Astronomy
Dissertation "A Spectral Survey of Black Hole Spin in Active Galactic Nuclei" (Advisor: Prof. Chris Reynolds)
Williams College | Williamstown, MA | 1995-1999
B.A., Astrophysics, cum laude
Dept. honors in Astrophysics based on defense of senior thesis, "The Use of Globular Clusters to Examine Spiral Galaxy Bulge Evolution"
Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian | Cambridge, MA | June 2023 – Present
Chair, High-Energy Astrophysics Division
Leading the scientific management the high-energy astrophysics division.
Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian | Cambridge, MA | Oct. 2022 – June 2023
Acting Chair, High-Energy Astrophysics Division
Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian | Cambridge, MA | Jan. 2021 – Oct. 2022
Deputy Chair, High-Energy Astrophysics Division
Assisted in leading the scientific management the high-energy astrophysics division.
Developed and began implementing a ten-year strategic plan for the HEAD.
Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian | Cambridge, MA | April 2014 – Present
Astrophysicist
Studying the physics of the innermost regions of AGN; leading role in the development of several planned and proposed X-ray astronomy missions.
Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian | Cambridge, MA | 2009 – 2014
Postdoctoral Fellow
Studied absorption and emission in AGN with Martin Elvis and Aneta Siemiginowska using theory and X-ray observations.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC) | Greenbelt, MD | 2007 – 2009
NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow
Worked with Kim Weaver in the Astrophysics Science Division on the X-ray properties of AGN, black hole systems and starburst galaxies.
University of Maryland | College Park, MD | 2003, 2005 – 2007)
Graduate Research Assistant
Performed X-ray spectral analysis of AGN with Chris Reynolds, characterizing absorption signatures and the inner accretion flow closest to the black hole; developed spectral model to constrain black hole spin.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC) | Greenbelt, MD | 2000 – 2002
Visiting Fellow, Lab for High Energy Astrophysics
Analyzed Chandra/ACIS and gratings data relating to emission properties of stellar coronae with advisers Michael Corcoran and Stephen Drake.
Deputy PI, Large X-ray Mirror Project; optics development effort currently underway at SAO in support of next-generation X-ray observatories.
XRISM Co-I; playing a leading role in the mission planning, PV-phase observations and on-orbit calibration of the observatory.
Serving as the NASA-appointed U.S. representative on the NewAthena Science Study Team.
Leading large, international collaborations in an examination of the physics at work in active galaxies with the XRISM, XMM-Newton, NuSTAR and Chandra missions.
Collaborating on a theoretical project to create spectral models for the X-ray emission from merging supermassive black hole systems.
Arcus Deputy PI; led the development of the science justification for the Arcus NASA/Probe proposal.
Member of the AGN Physics Working Group and Steering Committee for the STROBE-X NASA/Probe proposal.
Member of the AGN Physics Working Group for the HEX-P NASA/Probe proposal.
Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian (2009-present)
Presently serving on the thesis committees for Claire Hinrichs (SAO predoctoral fellow), Julie Malewicz (Georgia Tech graduate student) and Santiago Ubach-Ramirez (SAO predoctoral fellow).
Currently mentoring Peter Kosec (Einstein Fellow, 2023-2026).
Mentored Shalini Kurinchi-Vendhan (Caltech undergraduate, 2022), Mackenzie Jones (SAO postdoctoral fellow, 2018-2020), Jasmine Singh (Harvard undergraduate, 2017), Mason Keck (Boston University graduate student, 2013-2017), and Corinne Tu (Harvard undergraduate, 2012).
Participated in the Center for Astronomy Education’s two-day Teaching Excellence workshop at AAS (January 2012).
Served as a guest lecturer in ASTR 104 & 101 (intro for non-majors) at Williams College on the topic of black holes (April & December 2011).
University of Maryland (2002, 2004)
Graduate Teaching Assistant: ASTR 100 (intro for non-majors), ASTR 120 (intro for majors part 1), ASTR 121 (intro for majors part 2), ASTR 330 (special topics: collisions in space).
Designed and implemented two 40-minute discussion sections per week to augment lecture material, led labs, performed course grading.
National Cathedral School, Washington DC (1999-2000)
Assistant Physics Teacher, Advanced Placement physics and grade 9 physics.
Physical Education Teacher, grades 4-8.
Head coach, JV basketball; assistant coach, varsity basketball, varsity soccer, varsity softball.
Substitute Teacher, grades 9-12 in Latin, Geography and Psychology.
Williams College (1996-1999)
Teaching Assistant in Hopkins Observatory: aided all classes with use of telescopes (8-24”) for research and astrophotography.
Scientific organizing committee, NewAthena Scientific Conference (April 2027).
Co-chair of the AAS/HEAD/XRSIG/Lynx2030 working group on bandpass (January 2026 - present).
Scientific organizing committee, Revolutionising High-energy Astrophysics with NewAthena, special session at COSPAR General Assembly (August 2026).
Deputy PI of the CfA Large X-ray Mirror Project effort to design, prototype and test new optics technology for future space-based observatories (October 2025 - present).
Scientific organizing committee, XRISM International Conference 2025: (October 2025).
Scientific organizing committee, XMM-Newton 25th Anniversary Symposium (May 2025).
U.S. Representative to the NewAthena Science Study Team (April 2024 - present).
Scientific organizing committee, Arcus Community Science Meeting (May 2023).
Panelist, NASA Precursor Science Workshop 2 (October 2022).
AAS/HEAD Nominating Committee (September 2021 - August 2023).
Scientific organizing committee, “EAS2021 Symposium on XRISM and Athena” (June 2021).
Scientific organizing committee, “GMT Community Science Meeting” (September 2021).
CfA New Normal Working Group co-chair (May - December 2021).
SAO Scientific Computing Advisory Committee (2019-2020; Chair of SCAC, September 2020 - August 2024).
NASA Athena Study Team co-lead (2019-2025).
Scientific organizing committee, “X-ray Astronomy 2019,” (September 2019).
NASA Astrophysics Advisory Committee (2018-2020).
Scientific organizing committee, “High Energy Science and Simulations: SIXTE Workshop 2018,” (May 2018).
Scientific organizing committee, “Exploring the Hot and Energetic Universe: The second scientific conference dedicated to the Athena X-ray observatory,” (September 2018).
AAS/HEAD Executive Committee (2018-2020).
Scientific organizing committee, “WHIM and Cluster Outskirts: Lost and Found Baryons in the Local Universe” (June 2018).
Scientific organizing committee, “Science with STROBE-X” (September 2017).
Scientific organizing committee, “The X-ray Universe” (June 2017).
Session Chair at several AAS meetings, most recently “Black Hole Physics,” AAS Winter Meeting (Jan. 2016).
Lynx Science Team, Feedback and Extreme Physics Working Groups (August 2016-present).
Co-chair of Athena Science Working Group panel, “The Energetic Universe;” leading on-orbit calibration planning (2015 - 2022).
Scientific organizing committee, “Exploring the Hot and Energetic Universe with Athena,” (June 2014).
Arcus/MIDEX Science Team, co-I (May 2014 - December 2022).
Astro-H/Hitomi Science Team (2014-2016).
Scientific organizing committee, “The X-ray Universe,” (2014).
NASA X-ray Probe Science & Technology Definition Team (September-November 2013).
XMM-Newton Users Group, NASA Senior Review preparation (2011 - present).
NuSTAR Science Team, AGN Physics and Obscured AGN Working Groups (2009 - present).
Smithsonian Research Awards Peer Review (2024)
NuSTAR AO8 Peer Review Panel Chair (2022)
NuSTAR AO7 Peer Review Panel Chair (2021)
NASA Astrophysics Theory Program Peer Review (2019)
NSF AAPF Peer Review (2019)
Chandra Successor Mission Special Call for Proposals (2018)
XMM-Newton AO17 Peer Review (2017)
Einstein Postdoctoral Fellowship Peer Review (2017)
XMM-Newton AO16 Peer Review (2016)
NSF AAPF Peer Review (2015)
NASA Astrophysics Theory Program Peer Review (2014)
Swift AO10 Peer Review Panel Chair (2013)
NASA Astrophysics Data Analysis Program Peer Review (2013)
Chandra AO15 Peer Review (2013)
Suzaku A08 Peer Review Panel Chair (2013)
NASA Astrophysics Theory Program Peer Review (2012)
Suzaku AO7 Peer Review (2012)
RXTE cycle 14 Peer Review (2009)
Peer reviewer on manuscripts for Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, The Astrophysical Journal, New Astronomy, Science, Nature, Nature Astronomy and Astronomy & Astrophysics (2007-present)
Science advisor and producer for Smithsonian Enterprises production of the VR immersive experience, “Starstruck” (October 2025 - present).
Lecture on black holes to Concord Academy’s Astronomy class (April 2026).
Workshop presenter on black holes at Concord Academy’s Gender Representation in Tech Conference (April 2025).
Speaker/presenter on Arcus Probe mission concept for SAO’s advisory board (October 2022).
Guest Lecturer on black holes for Belmont Day School sixth grade science class (March 2022).
Speaker on a SETI talk, “Black Holes are Real. How Do They Shape Structure and Evolution in our Universe?” (October 2021). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrUF2YbTNjc&ab_channel=SETIInstitute.
Guest Lecturer on black holes for Williams College astrophysics class (December 2020).
Speaker/presenter on black holes for SAO’s advisory board (February 2020).
Speaker/presenter for NASA’s “Universe of Learning Science Briefing” STEM Learning Program (December 2018).
Smithsonian magazine expert responder to “Ask Smithsonian,” (June 2017).
Speaker for NASA’s “Space on the Hill” seminar series to the U.S. House of Representatives Space Science Subcommittee (May 2017).
Astronomy magazine “AskAstro” expert responder (December 2013).
Guest Lecturer, New England Air Museum’s Space Expo (April 2012).
Panelist/mentor, Williams College Women in the Sciences Program (February 2012).
NuSTAR media training workshop participant at NASA/JPL (February 2012).
Public talk for the Aldrich Astronomical Society monthly meeting (Princeton, MA, October 2011).
Frequent contributor of expert opinions to Sky & Telescope magazine (2011-present).
“Measuring Massive Black Hole Spins Using X-ray Observations,” Massive Black Hole Spins Workshop, April 2026.
“A Sharper View of the X-ray Spectrum of MCG—6-30-15 with XRISM, XMM-Newton and NuSTAR” XRISM International Conference, October 2025.
“Measuring Supermassive Black Hole Spins with X-ray Reflection Spectroscopy,” Wake Forest University Physics Colloquium, September 2025.
“The X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission,” Sesto Workshop, July 2024.
“The Arcus Astrophysics Probe Explorer,” JSI Workshop, October 2023.
“The Arcus Astrophysics Probe Explorer,” SRON Colloquium, September 2023.
“The Arcus Probe Mission,” AAS/HEAD Annual Meeting, April 2023.
“STROBE-X: Revealing Fundamental Physics via the Life Cycles of Compact Objects and the Dynamic Universe,” CfA HEAD Seminar, September 2022.
Speaker on a SETI talk, “Black Holes are Real. How Do They Shape Structure and Evolution in our Universe?” (October 2021). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrUF2YbTNjc&ab_channel=SETIInstitute.
“Synergies Between Rubin and ATHENA in AGN Spectroscopy,” ATHENA/VRO Synergy Workshop, April 2021.
“Two Decades of Measuring Black Hole Spin with XMM-Newton,” XMM 20th Anniversary Symposium, Greenbelt, MD, October 2019.
“Black Hole Spin Measurements in AGN,” BHI Conference, Cambridge, MA, May 2019.
“Illuminating the Disk/Corona/Jet Connection in NLS1 Galaxies,” University of Michigan Dept. of Astronomy Colloquium, Ann Arbor, MI, October 2018.
“Arcus: the X-ray Grating Spectrometer Explorer,” The Power of X-ray Spectroscopy, Warsaw, Poland, September 2017.
“Athena: Mission Concept, Status and Development,” From Chandra to Lynx, Cambridge, MA, August 2017.
“Probing the Inner Disk and Corona in AGN with X-ray Spectroscopy,” Univ. Amsterdam Astrophysics Colloquium, Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 2016.
“X-ray Spectroscopy of Local AGN,” The X-ray View of Black Hole Activity in the Local Universe, Zurich, Switzerland, February 2016.
“Impact of the X-ray Surveyor on Supermassive Black Hole Spin Measurements,” Probing the Universe in Depth and Detail with the X-Ray Surveyor, Washington DC, October 2015.
“SMBH Spin Measurements in AGN: Current Status and Future Directions,” CfA/HEAD Lunch Talk, September 2015.
“The Role of Black Hole Spin in Shaping Accretion, Feedback, and Galaxy Evolution over Cosmic Time,” IAU General Assembly, Honolulu, HI, August 2015.
“X-ray Puzzles from Supermassive Black Holes,” CfA Summer Colloquium, Cambridge, MA, July 2015.
“The Future of X-ray Reflection Studies in the 2020s and Beyond,” HEAD Special Meeting: High Energy Large and Medium-class Space Missions in the 2020s, Chicago, IL, June 2015.
“Black Hole Spin and the Immediate Environs of AGN,” IAP Astrophysics Seminar, Paris, France, February 2015.
“Measuring Black Hole Spins in AGN,” Compact Objects as Astrophysical and Gravitational Probes, Leiden, Netherlands, February 2015.
“NuSTAR/Suzaku X-ray Spectroscopy of NGC 4151,” Astronomy 310: Astrostatistics, Harvard University, September 2014.
“A Survey of Black Hole Spin and Relativistic Physics in AGN,” Suzaku-MAXI 2014: Expanding the Frontiers of the X-ray Universe, Matsuyama, Japan, February 2014.
“AGN Physics: Spin and Coronal Studies Overview,” NuSTAR Science Team Meeting, New York, NY, January 2014.
AGN Science Panelist and presenter, “Early Results from the NuSTAR AGN Physics Program,” Exploding Transients: Lighthouses of the Universe, Santorini, Greece, September 2013.
“Relativistic Lines in AGN,” From the Dolomites to the Event Horizon: Sledging Down the Black Hole Potential Well, Sesto, Italy, July 2013.
“The NuSTAR AGN Physics Program,” AAS, Long Beach, CA, January 2013.
“NuSTAR’s View of AGN,” X-ray Astronomy: Toward the Next 50 Years, Milan, Italy, October 2012.
“Probing Black Hole Spin and AGN Structure with X-ray Spectra,” MIT Astrophysics Colloquium, Cambridge, MA, September 2012.
“Measuring Black Hole Spins in AGN: Current Status and Future Prospects,” Black Holes by the Black Sea, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2012.
“Probing the Inner Accretion Disk in AGN Using X-ray Spectra,” The X-ray Universe 2012, Bamberg, Germany, June 2012.
Nominated for Smithsonian Institution Secretary’s Research Prize (2026).
NASA Group Achievement Award for role on the NuSTAR Project Team (2015).
American Astronomical Society (AAS) Chambliss Award Honorable Mention (2007).
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention (2004).
UMCP Dept. of Astronomy John C. Wang Academic Excellence Prize (2004).
UMCP Dept. of Astronomy Wentzel Fellowship (2002-2003).
NCAA Post-graduate Scholarship (1999).
USA Baseball Women’s National Team (2002-2007): World Cup MVP (2004), International Woman Baseball Player of the Year (2004), World Cup gold medalist (2004, 2006)
NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship (1999); awarded for demonstrating outstanding academic, athletic and leadership abilities.
Williams College Class of 1925 Scholar-Athlete Prize (1999)
Williams College varsity soccer: NSCAA All-American (1998), All-region (1997-1998), All-conference (1997-1998)
Williams College varsity basketball: NCAA All-tournament team (1999), New England Senior All-Star Team (1999), All-conference defensive team (1999)
Williams College varsity softball: All-region (1998-1999), All-conference (1997-1999)