About Michael

Michael is a postdoctoral scholar in the Theoretical Astrophysics Including Relativity and Cosmology (TAPIR) group at Caltech.  He works with Saul Teukolsky and is a member of the Simulating Extreme Spacetimes (SXS) Collaboration, performing software development for the SpECTRE code---ultimately allowing for capabilities of simulations of stellar explosions, known as supernovae.  Likewise, Michael is currently collaborating with the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and was a software developer for the Exascale Computing Project.

For his PhD at Michigan State, he worked with Sean Couch, simulating the gravitational wave emission from stellar explosions, or supernovae, as a means to better understand the physics inside of massive stars right before their deaths.  

Michael is also a science communicator, believing responsible research involves communicating new ideas to those of every background and education level, as much as it is making new discoveries.  Some examples are his recent 'Stargazing Lecture' at Caltech (linked on this page) or his TED talk about the connection between the cosmos and the human condition (see the Outreach tab).

If you're a scientist interested in current and past research projects, look at the Research for Scientists tab; if you're a member of the public who is curious about Michael's work explained in an accessible way, look at the Research for the Public tab.